I 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE; 


THE 


EXPERIENCE 


OP 


A    HOSPITAL    AGENT 


IN  AND  AROUND    WASHINGTON. 


| 

BY    JULIA     S.    WHEELOCK. 


•'  Whether  on  the  tented  field, 
Or  in  the  battle's  van, 
The  fittest  place  for  man  to  die 
Is  where  he  dies  for  man." 


NEW    YORK: 
PJRI3STTEI3     BY    L  A  N  CMC     &    H I L  H,  M  A  N, 

STEAM  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTERS,  207  PEARL  ST., 

NEAR  MAIDEN  LANK. 
1870. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870,  by 

JULIA  8.  WHEELOCK, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 


Printed  by  LANOI  &  HILLMAJT, 

207  Pearl  Street, 
Near  Maiden  Lane,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 


FROM  September,  1862,  to  July,  1865,  I  was  in  the 
hospitals  in  and  around  Washington.  I  kept  a  journal 
of  my  experience,  portions  of  which  appear  in  this 
volume.  The  journal  was  kept  for  my  personal  benefit, 
and  not  for  publication.  Much  of  it  was  written  late  at 
night,  when  so  wearied,  by  excessive  labor,  anxiety,  and 
excitement,  that  I  would  not  unfrequently  fall  asleep 
with  the  pen  in  my  hand.  I  often  sat  upon  a  box  or 
some  rude  bench,  and  held  my  book  on  my  lap  as  I 
wrote,  and  now  this  journal,  condensed,  is  thrown  into 
the  lap  of  the  public  and  of  my  friends,  who  have  ear 
nestly  requested  that  ''The  Boys  in  White  "  may  be  em 
balmed,  as  well  as  the  "  Boys  in  Blue."  My  object  in 
going  South  was  to  help  care  for  a  wounded  brother. 
When  I  left  home  I  expected  to  remain  only  until  he  be 
came  able  to  travel ;  but,  upon  arriving  in  Alexandria, 
we  found  that  death  had  already  done  its  work.  A  lit 
tle  mound  of  earth  in  the  soldier's  cemetery  marked  the 
where  that  dear,  almost  idolizvl  Brother  slept,  and 


VI  PREFACE. 

thus  our  bright  hopes  and  fond  anticipations  were  sud 
denly  and  forever  blighted.  I  resolved  to  remain  and 
endeavor,  God  being  my  helper,  to  do  for  others  as  I  fain 
would  have  done  for  my  dear  brother.  A  field  of  labor 
soon  presented  itself  which  I  most  gladly  entered.  Jus 
tice  to  our  noble  soldiers  demands  that  I  should  here 
state  that,  during  my  hospital  and  army  experience  of 
nearly  three  years,  I  was  uniformly  treated  with  the  ut 
most  courtesy  and  respect.  I  know  it  was  thought  and 
even  said  by  some,  that  a  lady  could  riot  be  associated 
with  the  army  without  losing  her  standard  of  moral  ex 
cellence.  I  pity  those  who  have  such  a  low  estimate  of 
the  moral  worth  and  true  nobility  of  the  soldier. 

I  have  sometimes  been  asked  if  I  did  not  feel  afraid 
when  in  the  midst  of  so  many  soldiers.  I  can  truthfully 
say  that  I  never  knew  what  fear  was  when  in  the  army, 
for  I  felt  that  every  noble  boy  in  blue  was  my  brother 
and  protector.  What  cause  had  one  to  fear,  when  brave, 
heroic  hearts  and  strong  arms  were  ever  ready  to  defend  ? 

Any  one,  during  war's  dark  hours,  whose  mission  was 
to  do  good,  was  almost  an  object  of  worship  by  those  so 
wholly  excluded  from  home  influences.  For,  if  there 
ever  was  a  time  when  the  better  angel  of  their  nature 
guarded  the  citadel  of  their  hearts,  it  was  in  the  pres 
ence  of  woman — when  she  was  a  true  representative  of 
what  that  sacred  word  implies. 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  express  my  sincere  thanks 
to  the  officers  of  the  "  Michigan  Relief  Association," 


PREFACE.  vii 

with  which  I  was  connected,  for  their  kindness  and  for 
bearance;  to  our  military  State  agents,  Dr.  J.  Tunne- 
cliff  and  Rev.  D.  E.  Willard,  to  whom  I  never  appealed 
in  vain  for  aid  or  counsel ;  also  to  military  agents  of 
other  States,  and  to  the  officers  and  agents  of  various 
"  State  Reliefs."  We  were  greatly  indebted  to  the 
Christian  Commission  for  large  supplies  which  we  fre 
quently  drew  from  their  stores,  and  for  occasional  drafts 
on  the  Sanitary  Commission.  Officers  of  the  Govern 
ment,  and  hospital  officials,  as  a  rule,  were  kind  and 
obliging.  Our  thanks  are  also  due  to  pur  Congressmen 
and  other  Michigan  gentlemen  residing  in  Washington, 
who  were  ever  ready  to  assist  us  in  our  work. 

That  this  little  volume  may  be  the  means  of  renewing 
the  acquaintance  and  of  strengthening  the  friendship  of 
those  who  labored  together  in  this  blessed  work,  as  well 
as  of  the  soldiers  themselves,  is  the  earnest  desire  of  my 
heart.  If  this  shall  be  the  result,  I  shall  feel  that  I  have 
not  written  in  vain. 


I  TAKE  the  liberty  of   publishing  the  following 
private  letter  from  Grace  Greenwood: 


WASHINGTON,  May  10th,  1869. 

MY  DEAR  Miss  WHEELOCK: 

I  am  pleased  to  hear  that  you  propose  to  make 
a  book  of  your  varied  and  interesting  reminiscences 
of  the  war,  and  of  the  touching  records  of  our  brave 
soldiers  which  you  have  treasured  up. 

I  well  remember  seeing  you  at  your  post  of  duty 
with  the  army,  at  the  camp  of  a  portion  of  the 
Second  Corps,  on  the  Kapidan,  in  that  critical  time 
of  the  great  struggle,  the  winter  of  1864,  just  before 
the  grand  move  of  the  army  under  General  Grant, 
which  resulted  in  the  fall  of  Richmond. 

I  saw  you  at  your  lonely  and  sad,  but  most  noble 
and  womanly  work,  and  felt  gratified  that  the  poor, 
sick  soldiers  had  such  a  friend  in  their  darkest 
hours. 


Truly  those  past  heroic  days  should  be  kept  in 
remembrance,  and  every  faithful  record  of  them 
should  be  welcome  to  us.  So  I  hope  your  little 
literary  enterprise  may  be  successful. 

Truly  yours, 

GEACB    GKEENWOOD. 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

RETROSPECT — HOME-LEA  VINO—LAKE  ERIE — ALLEGHANIES— ACCI- 
DENT — WASHINGTON — PROVOST  MARSHAL — THE  PRESENTI 
MENT—BLIGHTED  HOPES— ORVILLE  WHEELOCK— MY  BRO 
THER'S  GRAVE. 

ALEXANDRIA,  VA.,  Oct.  1, 1862. 

WELL,  here  I  am,  strange  as  it  seems,  in  the  rebel 
lious  city  of  Alexandria!  Alone,  among  strangers, 
hundreds  of  miles  from  home  and  kindred,  surrounded 
by  scenes  new  and  strange ;  scenes  of  sadness,  of  suf 
fering,  of  death. 

As  I  look  over  the  past,  it  does  not  seem  possible 
that  only  three  weeks  have  elapsed  since  leaving 
home.  Oh  I  what  a  lifetime  one  may  live  in  a  very 
short  period,  when  it  is  measured  by  heart-throbs 
instead  of  years.  While  retrospecting,  memory  goes 
back  to  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  the  month  just 
closed.  Its  dawn  is  .calm  and  beautifuU  Nine 


10  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE 

o'clock  finds  me  in  the  old  red  school-house  in  the 
township  of  Ionia,  Michigan,  where  are  assembled  the 
rural  children  and  youth  for  instruction.  All  are  joy 
ous  and  happy.  Three  days  more  and  the  term  will 
close.  This  day  promises  to  end  as  it  began,  full  of 
joy  and  gladness — yet,  knowing  that  the  fearful  bat 
tles  of  Bull  Kun  and  Chantilly  had  recently  been 
fought,  we  were  anxiously  waiting  for  tidings  from 
the  loved  one  who  had  gone  to  battle  for  the  "  dear 
old  flag,"  and,  if  need  be,  die  to  maintain  its  honor. 
But  the  interval  that  had  elapsed  since  the  occur 
rence  of  those  bloody  conflicts  gave  us  reason  to  hope 
that  our  soldier  brother  was  safe.  Nor  voice,  nor 
spirit,  nor  sighing  wind,  nor  playful  breeze,  told  of 
the  future.  But  time  on  rapid  wing  approached  with 
tidings  the  most  heart-crushing.  A  child  is  made 
the  bearer  of  the  sad  message. 

About  three  o'clock,  while  engaged  in  hearing  a 
recitation,  there  is  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door — a  little 
girl  steps  upon  the  threshold ;  her  eyes  are  red  with 
weeping,  and,  in  great  agitation,  she  says :  "  Orville 
is  wounded ;  his  limb  is  amputated.  He  has  sent  for 
Anna,  and  she  starts  for  Washington  to-morrow ! " 
My  womanly  heart  said,  that  "  Orville  Wheelock,  my 
brother,  must  not  suffer  alone.  I  will  accompany 
Anna  to  Washington." 

The  dawn  of  the  morning  of  the  llth  was  calm 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  11 

and  peaceful,  but  to  us  every  breeze  seemed  laden 
with  sighs  from  some  stricken  heart.  Little  Minnie 
gathered  a  bouquet  of  flowers  to  send  to  "  dear 
papa,'1  and  every  blossom  was  a  wish  that  he  might 
come  home.  At  nine  o'clock  sister  and  I  bade  adieu 
to  friends,  and  in  Ionia  village  we  were  joined  by 
Mrs.  Peck,  the  sister  of  my  brother's  wife,  who  was 
starting  to  Washington  to  care  for  her  wounded  hus 
band.  Off  at  two  o'clock.  Soon  the  enterprising 
little  town  of  Ionia  is  lost  in  the  distance.  Familiar 
objects  fade  from  our  view,  and  all  becomes  new  and 
strange — as  this  is  my  first  ride  over  the  Detroit  and 
Milwaukee  Kailroad.  The  scenery  is  rather  monot 
onous  along  the  line  of  the  road — the  country  most 
of  the  way  being  new — though  every  few  miles  we 
pass  thriving  little  villages  which  have  sprung  up 
within  a  few  years  as  if  by  magic,  and  which  north 
ern  industry  and  enterprise  will  soon  convert  into 
fine  cities,  and  those  dismal  swamps  and  marshes  into 
beautiful  meadow  lands.  At  Detroit  we  take  the 
steamer  "May  Queen,"  bound  for  Cleveland.  The 
evening  is  delightful.  The  stars  one  by  one  shine 
forth  from  the  blue  canopy  above,  and  their  gentle 
light  is  reflected  from  the  blue  expanse  below;  and 
while  we  gaze,  the  full-orbed  moon  emerges  from 
the  waters,  and,  "  blending  her  silvery  light  with  that 
of  her  sister  stars,"  adds  new  lustre  to  the  scene. 


12  THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

At  eight  o'clock  we  leave  the  shores  of  Michigan, 
and  are  soon  plowing  our  way  through  the  blue 
waters  of  Lake  Erie.  How  pleasantly  and  quickly 
would  have  passed  the  hours  of  that  long  night, 
were  it  not  for  the  sad  mission  upon  which  we 
were  going.  The  battle-field  with  its  thousands  of 
mangled  forms,  the  dead  and  the  dying,  and  all  the 
horrors  connected  with  such  scenes  of  carnage,  are 
spread  out  before  us.  These,  with  the  conflicting 
hopes  and  fears,  which  alternately  take  possession  of 
our  hearts,  banish  "tired  nature's  sweet  restorer, 
balmy  sleep.11 

We  land  in  Cleveland  at  5  A.  M.,  purchase  tick 
ets  for  Washington  via  Philadelphia.  After  four 
weary  hours  of  waiting,  we  find  ourselves  comfortably 
seated  in  the  cars,  and  are  hurried  on  toward  our 
destination.  We  arrive  at  Pittsburg  at  2  P.  M., 
where  we  change  cars,  and  hasten  away,  leaving  the 
dingy,  smoke-wreathed  city  in  the  distance. 

As  we  approach  the  Alleghanies,  the  scenery  be 
comes  picturesque  and  grand,  often  approaching  the 
sublime.  Those  mountain  ranges  with  their  lofty 
peaks  towering  heavenward,  those  rocky  cliffs  and 
deep  gorges,  those  long  tunnels  through  which  we 
pass,  where  in  a  moment  midnight  darkness  succeeds 
to  the  brightness  of  noon,  producing  feelings — one 
might  imagine — akin  to  a  sudden  exchange  of  worlds. 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  13 

While  passing  through  these  tunnels  an  almost 
breathless  silence  prevaits — scarce  a  whisper  is  heard 
until  we  again  emerge  into  the  light.  Next  we  de 
scribe  a  semi-circle  around  a  sharp  curve ;  then  we 
pass  through  some  deep  cut ;  across  valleys,  where  now 
and  then  we  catch  a  glimpse  of  some  little  town  with 
its  long  rows  of  white- washed  buildings,  nestled  cosily 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  New  objects  appear 
for  a  moment  and  are  gone,  until  at  length  the  day 
wears  away,  and  night  drops  her  sable  curtain  o7er  the 
scene. 

We  pass  Harrisburg  in  the  night,  so  we  have  not 
even  a  glimpse  of  the  capital  of  the  old  Keystone 
State.  All  is  hushed  and  still ;  we  have  just  com 
posed  ourselves  for  a  little  sleep,  when  suddenly  there 
is  a  crashing  and  jarring  which  throws  many  from 
their  seats ;  but  in  a  few  moments  all  is  explained— 
the  cars  are  off  the  track.  The  first  thought  is,  that 
some  villainous  "Keb"  had  placed  obstructions  on 
the  track,  but  the  truth  is  soon  known :  an  innocent 
horse  is  the  cause  of  the  accident,  and  "  Johnny  Eeb  " 
is  for  once  wrongfully  accused. 

No  one  seriously  hurt ;  only  a  few  moments'  delay  ; 
the  passengers  are  crowded  into  the  few  remaining 
cars,  and  we  are  soon  on  our  way  again,  leaving  the 
poor  horse  on  both  sides  of  the  track.  We  arrive  in 
Philadelphia  at  four  A.  M.,  where  we  wait  for  the 


14  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

eleven  o'clock  train  to  Baltimore.  We  saw  but  little 
of  the  city.  Being  very  tired,  and  having  our  minds 
•constantly  occupied  with  anxious  thoughts  and  fear 
ful  forebodings,  we  felt  no  desire  for  sight-seeing. 

The  seven  long  hours  we  have  to  wait  at  length 
wear  away,  and  once  more  we  find  ourselves  hurrying 
on  toward  the  monumental  city,  where  we  arrive 
about  three  P.  M.  The  bloody  scene  which  transpired 
in  the  streets  of  this  great  arid  beautiful  city,  the  19th 
of  April,  1861,  came  fresh  to  memory.  It  was  here 
the  loyal  blood  of  Massachusetts'  patriot  sons  was 
first  shed — not,  however,  by  a  manly  foe,  but  by  a 
furious,  disgraceful  mob,  which  mad  riot  incited  to 
deeds  of  violence  and  blood.  But,  oh!  what  thou 
sands  since  then  have  fallen,  and  still  the  sword  is 
unsheathed!  We  would  adopt  the  language  of  the 
Psalmist:  "How  long,  0  Lord,  how  long  shall  the 
wicked  triumph  ?  " 

After  a  short  delay,  once  more  the  shrill  whistle  is 
heard,  and  again  we  are  moving  on  toward  the  na 
tion's  capital,  where  we  arrive  in  good  time.  The 
first  object  that  attracts  our  attention  is  that  magnifi 
cent  building — the  Capitol.  But,  as  it  is  getting  late, 
we  engage  a  hack, 'and  go  directly  to  Columbian  Hos 
pital  in  search  of  Mr.  Peck,  having  learned  that  he 
was  there ;  but  to  the  great  disappointmeat  of  us  all, 
and  especially  olP  his  poor  wife,  we  found  that  he  had 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  15 

been  sent  only  the  day  before  to  Point  Lookout,  and, 
it  being  impossible  for  her  to  procure  transportation 
to  that  place,  the  hope  of  seeing  him  had  to  be  aban 
doned.  Oh,  how  trying,  after  travelling  three  weary 
days  with  a  babe  in  her  arms,  to  be  just  one  day  too 
late.  Too  late !  How  significant  and  full  of  meaning 
those  little  words!  How  many  have  been  one  day 
too  late,  and  no  hope  of  a  re-union  on  earth!  It 
now  being  too  late  to  go  to  Alexandria — the  boats 
having  already  stopped  running — the  fond  hope  of 
seeing  the  dear  husband  and  brother  that  day  had  to 
be  given  up.  Oh,  how  could  we  remain  even  for 
one  night  with  only  the  Potomac  between  us  and  the 
dear  object  of  our  search !  What  if  this  should  be 
his  last  night  on  earth  ?  What  if  his  released  spirit 
should  take  its  everlasting  flight  ere  the  dawn  of  an 
other  day  ?  How  could  we  say,  li  Thy  will  be  done  "  ? 
But  there  is  no  alternative.  We  must  wait. 

On  our  way  to  Columbian  Hospital  we  passed  thou 
sands  of  our  soldiers,  some  of  them  apparently  having 
recently  arrived — judging  from  their  clean  uniforms — 
while  others  had  evidently  seen  hard  service,  looking 
worn  and  tired,  and  well-nigh  discouraged.  We  con 
cluded  that  they  belonged  to  Pope's  grand  army, 
which  had  so  recently  retreated  from  the  disastrous 
battle-field  of  Bull  Run.  We  wondered  how  such 
numbers  could  have  been  defeated.  To  us,  having 


16  THE   BOYS    IN   WHITE. 

never  before  seen  more  than  a  single  regiment  at  a 
time,  it  was  a  vast  army.  We  began  to  realize  that 
we  had  a  mighty  foe  to  contend  with,  and  as  we  look 
ed  upon  those  war-scarred  heroes — heroes,  notwith 
standing  the  retreat — we  could  not  help  repeating  to 
ourselves :  "  Poor  boys,  how  little  you  or  we  know 
what  lies  before  us  ;  there  may  be  many  battles  to 
be  fought,  and,  perhaps,  some  more  inglorious  retreats. 
Many  of  you  will  see  home  and  friends  no  more ;  your 
final  resting-place  will  be  upon  Southern  soil." 

Early  next  morning  we  hastened  to  the  Provost 
Marshal's  office  to  obtain  passes  for  Alexandria,  Ar 
riving  at  the  office,  hope  almost  dies  within  us,  for  we 
see  this  notice:  "ISTo  passes  granted  on  Sunday." 
What  is  to  be  done,  now?  Shall  we  retrace  our  steps, 
and  wait  another  twenty-four  hours  in  such  terrible 
suspense  ?  No,  we  resolved  not  to  leave  until  an  effort 
had  been  made,  and  the  last  argument  exhausted  in 
setting  forth  the  justice  of  our  claim.  We  entered  the 
office,  found  it  already  filled  with  applicants,  saw  one 
after  another  as  they  applied  and  were  refused. 
Tremblingly  we  crowd  our  way  to  the  Marshal's 
chair,  and  with  the  greatest  respect,  and  more  defer 
ence  than  is  meet  should  be  paid  to  mortals,  request 
passes  to  Alexandria.  He  straightens  himself  up,  and 
with  the  cold  dignity  of  a  prince,  replies :  "  Don't  you 
know  we  don't  give  passes  on  Sunday?  Why  do 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  17 

you  ask  us  to  violate  orders  ?  "  Still  acting  as  spokes 
man,  I  inquired:  "Will  no  circumstances  justify  you 
in  granting  a  pass  to-day  ?  "  "  Well,  what  are  the  cir 
cumstances,"  said  he,  in  the  same  stern  manner.  Our 
story  was  briefly  told,  after  which,  with  some  hesita 
tion,  and  watching  us  closely  to  see  whether  we  were 
deceiving  him,  he  directed  them  to  be  made  out.  Oh, 
what  a  load  was  that  moment  lifted  from  our  hearts  ! 
Those  little  strips  of  paper,  how  precious!  With  tears 
of  gratitude  we  left  the  office,  and  immediately  started 
for  the  boat  landing,  and  were  soon  on  the  steamer 
"James  Guy,"  and  off  for  Alexandria,  eight  miles 
down  the  river.  How  delightful,  had  we  been  on  a 
pleasure  excursion!  Scenes  and  scenery  so  entirely 
new!  The  forts  along  the  river,  with  those  iron- 
throated  monsters  looking  defiantly  upon  us,  almost 
causing  one  to  shrink  back  with  terror,  were  a  great- 
curiosity.  The  beautiful  residence  of  Gen.  Robert  E. 
Lee,  now  his  no  longer — having  been  forfeited  by  trea 
son — on  Arlington  heights,  half  hidden  amid  stately 
forest  trees  and  luxuriant  evergreens,  was  pointed  out 
to  us;  also  the  Washington  Navy  Yard,  the  Arsenal 
and  the  Insane  Asylum.  But  what  attracts  our  atten 
tion  more  than  all  else,  are  the  multitudes  of  soldiers 
with  their  snowy  tents  skirting  the  banks  on  either 
side  of  the  river,  and  extending  back  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  covering  every  hill-side  and  every  valley, 


18  THE   BOYS    IN^WIIITE. 

which,  with  the  desolate  appearance  of  the  country, 
remind  us  that  we  are  in  the  presence  of  WAR. 

Soon  the  ancient  city  of  Alexandria — ancient  in 
American  history — heaves  in  sight.  It  presents  a 
gloomy,  dingy,  dilapidated  appearance.  As  we  set 
foot  upon  the  "sacred  soil,"  we  experience  quickened 
heart-beatings,  for  we  know  that  this  terrible  suspense 
will  soon  give  place  to,  it  may  be,  a  dreadful  reality. 
As  we  pass  up  King  street  we  pause  a  moment  to 
look  at  the  building  where  the  brave  young  Ellsworth 
fell,  drop  a  tear  to  his  memory,  and  hasten  on.  Turn 
ing  from  King  into  Washington  street,  we  notice  a 
soldier  in  full  uniform  with  a  shouldered  musket, 
pacing  to  and  fro  in  front  of  what  appeared  to  be  a 
church.  We  are  told  by  the  guard  that  it  is  the 
Southern  M.  E.  Church,  but  now  used  for  a  hospital. 
We  enter  the  building,  make  known  the  object  of  our 
visit,  but  find  he  is  not  there.  My  poor  sister  could 
go  no  farther ;  she  seemed  to  have  a  presentiment  that 
her  worst  fears  were  about  to  be  realized.  "  Oh !  " 
she  says,  uhis  wound  is  fatal,  for  he  came  to  me  in 
my  dreams  only  a  few  nights  since,  looking  worn  and 
pale  and  haggard,  having  lost  a  limb  in  battle,  and 
seemed  to  say,  '  My  work  is  done,  I'm  weary  and  must 
rest.' "  She  felt  that  his  work  was  done,  and  if  so, 
well  done,  having  u  fought  the  good  fight  and  kept 
the  faith,"  and  that  he  had  gone  to  receive  the  crown. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  *          19 

And  yet,  amid  these  consoling  reflections,  thoughts  of 
her  own  desolation  and  the  great  loss  she  would  sus 
tain  if  her  fears  were  realized,  would  rush  upon  her 
with  an  overwhelming  force,  crushing  out  life's  bright 
hopes,  while  the  language  of  her  heart  was,  "Who 
will  care  for  the  fatherless  now  ?  " — forgetting  for  the 
time  the  promise  of  God,  "Leave  thy  fatherless  chil 
dren  with  me  and  I  will  preserve  them  alive."  We 
tried  to  comfort  her,  saying  we  should  soon  have  him 
with  us;  that  one  so  strong,  physically,  would  cer 
tainly  survive  the  amputation  of  a  limb  ;  and,  bidding 
her  be  of  good  cheer,  Mrs.  Peck  and  I  hastened  to  the 
next  hospital — the  Lyceum  Hall — but  to  our  anxious 
inquiry  met  with  the  same  reply  as  before.  We  cross 
the  street  to  the  Baptist  church,  which  is  also  used 
for  a  hospital,  our  fears  every  moment  increasing, 
Happening  to  look  back  before  entering  this  hospital, 
to  the  one  we  had  just  left,  we  saw  some  one  beckon 
ing  to  us  to  return.  Hope  began  to  revive ;  we  hur 
ried  back  and  were  told  he  was  there,  and  doing  well, 
though  still  very  weak.  Our  informant  asked  us  if 
we  would  see  him  ?  "  Wo,"  we  replied,  "  not  until  we 
have  informed  his  wife,"  requesting  him  in  the  mean 
time  to  try  and  prepare  his  mind  to  see  her,  cautioning 
him  to  break  the  news  very  carefully,  fearing  that  the 
excitement  might  prove  injurious  to  one  so  weak. 
Having  given  these  instructions,  I  left  Mrs.  P.,  and 


20          *  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

hurried  back  with  a  light  heart  and  a  quick  step  to 
the  hospital  where  my  sister  was  waiting  in  such 
agony  of  suspense.  She  heard  my  voice  before  reach 
ing  the  hospital,  exclaiming  at  almost  every  step: 
"I've  found  him  I  I've  found  him!  Oh,  Anna,  come 
quickly ! "  I  did  not  realize  that  I  was  in  the  streets 
of  a  city,  attracting  the  notice  of  passers-by,  nor  did  I 
much  care,  for  a  deep  anxiety  and  long  days  of  sus 
pense  had  given  place  to  joyful  hopes  .and  sweet  an 
ticipations. 

She  rose  to  accompany  me,  hesitated  a  moment,  and 
then  sank  back  upon  her  seat,  and  with  a  look  almost 
of  despair,  says:  "Julia,  are  you  sure,  have  you  seen 
him  ?  "  I  assured  her,  that  though  I  liad  not  seen 
him,  there  could  be  no  mistake,  for  they  certainly 
would  not  have  said  he  was  there,  had  he  not  been. 
Thus  reassured  she  rose  the  second  time,  took  my  arm, 
and  we  started.  We  had  gone  but  a  few  steps  when 
our  ears  were  saluted  with  the  sad  and  mournful  tones 
of  the  fife  and  muffled  drum,  and  on  looking  back  we 
saw  a  soldier's  funeral  procession  approaching — a 
scene  I  had  never  before  witnessed,  but  one  with 
which  I  was  destined  to  become  familiar.  How  un 
like  a  funeral  at  home !  No  train  of  weeping  friends 
follow  his  bier  ;  yet  one  of  our  country's  heroes,  one 
of  the  "  boys  in  white,"  lies  in  that  plain  coffin.  He 
is  escorted  to  his  final  resting-place  by  perhaps  a 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  21 

dozen  comrades,  who  go  with  unfixed  bayonets,  and 
arms  reversed,  keeping  time  with  their  slow  tread  to 
the  solemn  notes  of  the  "  Dead  March,"  plaintively 
executed  by  some  of- their  number. 

"  Aye !  follow  his  corpse  to  its  last  long  rest, 

With  the  fife  and  muffled  drum ; 
It  is  meet  that  he  should  be  honored  thus, 
Who  a  soldier's  work  has  done." 

The  tear  of  sympathy  unbidden  starts  at  the  sight 
of  the  "unknown,"  and  for  the  bereaved  friends  who 
weep  in  far  off  homes.  In  a  few  minutes  we  are  at 
the  Lyceum  Hospital  where,  instead  of  the  realization 
of  our  hopes,  heart-rending  tidings  await  us.  He 
who,  but  a  few  moments  before,  was  the  bearer  of  such 
good  news,  again  makes  his  appearance ;  but  why  is 
his  countenance  so  sad?  His  own  words  will  tell. 
"  I  was  mistaken,  he  is  not  here ; "  but  something 
either  in  his  tone  or  manner  indicated  that  he  had 
been  there,  and  at  the  same  moment  we  all  inquired : 
"  Oh,  where  is  he?  "  "  He  is  dead!  "  was  the  reply. 
Oh,  that  terrible  word — "  dead !  "  How  suddenly  it 
blighted  our  fond  hopes,  and  turned  our  anticipated 
joy  into  the  deepest  grief. 

From  the  hospital  we  were  conducted  to  the  Kev. 
Mr.  Eeid's,  my  poor  sister  being  carried  in  an  almost 
senseless  condition,  where  we  spent  a  sleepless  night 


22  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

brooding  over  our  sorrow  and  shedding  the  unavail 
ing  tear.  Oh !  that  never-to-be-forgotten  day ! 
A  day  not  only  of  bright,  but  blighted  hopes,  a  day 
of  mourning,  of  sadness  and  bereavement,  a  day  that 
revealed  to  an  anxious  wife  that  she  was  a  widow  and 
her  children  fatherless;  a  day  that  said  to  my  sad 
heart,  "Thy  brother  has  fallen.'7  He  died  like  thou 
sands  of  others,  far  from  home  and  friends,  with  no 
loved  kindred  near.  But  God  had  sent  an  angel  of 
mercy  in  human  form — that  noble  girl,  Miss  Clara  F. 
Jones,  of  Philadelphia — to  watch  over  and  administer 
to  his  wants.  She  watched  him  day  by  day  as  he 
grew  weaker,  she  stood  beside  him  in  his  dying  mo 
ments,  held  his  icy  hand  in  hers,  wiped  the  death  dew 
from  his  brow,  received  his  last  message  for  his  wife 
and  child,  and,  when  life  had  fled,  prepared  him  as  far 
as  she  could  for  his  burial.  Such  are  her  daily  duties. 
May  God  reward  her  with  the  rich  blessing  of  his  love. 
My  brother  was  one  of  those  with  whom  religion 
was  a  vital  principle.  He  heeded  the  injunction  of 
the  Saviour,  "  Go  work  in  my  vineyard."  And  when 
the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded,  and  there  was  a  call 
for  volunteers,  he  committed  all  to  God,  and  cheerful 
ly  responded  to  that  call  and  hastened  to  the  rescue  of 
his  imperilled  country,  and,  while  battling  for  freedom 
and  humanity,  he  felt  that  he  was  fighting  for  God, 
and  that  he  was  still  in  his  Master's  service. 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  23 

The  niglit  of  his  death  Mr.  Eeid  spent  the  evening 
with  him,  speaking  words  of  comfort  and  Christian 
consolation.  But  to  the  dying  saint  death  had  no 
terror,  for  "his  anchor  was  cast  within  the  veil,"  and 
''that  anchor  holds."  He  could  adopt  the  sweet 
words  of  the  poet : 

"Father!  the  pearly  gates  unfold, 
The  sapphire  walls,  the  streets  of  gold 

Are  bursting  on  my  sight; 
The  angel  bands  come  singing  down, 
And  one  has  got  my  starry  crown 

And  one  my  robe  of  white." 

The  morning  of  the  15th,  sister  Anna  and  I,  accom 
panied  by  Eev.  Mr.  Eeid  and  wife,  Miss  Jones  and 
Chaplain  Gage,  visited  brother's  grave.  Oh!  how 
could  we  realize,  as  we  stood  by  that  little,  narrow, 
turfless  mound,  that  dear  Orville  lay  there?  His 
poor  heart-broken  widow  threw  herself  upon  his 
grave  and  gave  vent  to  her  deep  grief  in  sobs  and  bit 
ter  tears.  Nearly  three  hundred  brave  "boys  in 
white"  lay  side  by  side  in  the  same  enclosure,  with 
not  even  a  stone  to  mark  the  place  where  they  were 
sleeping,  nor  a  spear  of  grass  growing  upon  theii 
graves,  simply  buried  out  of  sight;  but  each  little- 
mound  is  cherished,  oh,  how  sacredly  by  some  one! 

Ni.crht  winds  are  mournfully  sweeping, 
Whispering  oak-branches  wave 


24  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

Where  your  loved  aslies  are  sleeping-, 

Forms  of  the  true  and  the  brave ! 
Silence  reigns  breathless  around  you, 

All  your  stern  conflicts  are  o'er; 
Deep  in  the  sleep  that  hath  bound  you, 

Trumpet  shall  rouse  you  no  more. 

Sweet  and  serene  be  your  slumbers! 

Hearts  for  whose  freedom  ye  bled, 
Millions  whom  no  man  can  number, 

Tears  of  sad  gratitude  shed. 
Never  shall  morn  brightly  breaking 

Enter  your  chambers  of  gloom, 
Till  the  last  trumpet  awaking, 

Sounds  through  the  depth  of  the  gloom. 

We  returned  to  Mr.  K.'s,  feeling  that  the  grave  was  a 
poor  place  to  go  for  consolation  in  times  of  affliction ; 
but  there  is  comfort  in  the  promise,  "Thy  brother 
shall  rise  again."  If  you  ask  where  my  brother  shall 
rise,  I  reply :  u  The  scene  of  his  death  and  burial  is 
to  be  the  scene  of  his  resurrection."  "How  beauti 
ful  the  thought,  that,  when  the  trumpet  sounds,  the 
dead  shall  come  forth  from  the  spot  whereon  they 
fell.  The  sailor  who  found  a  watery  grave  will 
emerge  from  his  long  deep  resting-place ;  the  warrior 
who  fell  upon  the  battle-field  will  rise  side  by  side 
with  him  who  was  slain  by  his  hand,  their  feuds  all 
ended." 

"  Whole  families  will  stand  together  on  some  green 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  25 

spot  which  they  have  adorned  with  care ;  brother  and 
sister  will  rise  side  by  side,  and  long  parted  friends 
will  re-unite." 

"  They  will  rise  to  enjoy  all  that  angels  feel  of  the 
celestial  love  and  peace,  to  swell  the  anthem  of  the 
redeemed,  which,  beginning  upon  the  outer  ranks  of 
the  hosts  of  God,  rolls  inward,  growing  deeper  and 
louder  until  it  gathers  and  breaks  in  one  full  deep 
symphony  of  praise  around  the  throne."  "Worthy  is 
the  Lamb  who  was  slain,  to  receive  honor,  and  power, 
and  glory,  and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever !  " 

Viewed  in  this  light,  what  a  glorious  idea  the 
resurrection  is!  How  does  it  destroy  the  fear  of 
death,  and  take  away  the  dark  appearance  of  the 
grave  I 


26  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER  II. 


MR.  REID— LOYAL  FRIENDS— VISIT  TO  THE  LYCEUM— HOSPITAL- 
MISS  JONES — LIEUTENANT  STEVENSON— THE  DECISION — 
FRIENDS— RETURN— THE  FIRST  WOUNDED— APPOINTMENT 
AS  AGENT — FAIRFAX  SEMINARY — HOSPITAL  OF  THE  FIRST 
MICHIGAN  CAVALRY— NEW  SCENES— FIRST  HOSPITAL  WORK. 

OUR  kind  host  and  his  excellent  lady  were  untir 
ing  in  their  efforts  to  give  consolation.  We  found 
them  to  be  the  most  devoted  friends  of  the  soldiers, 
and  the  purest  patriots  of  which  our  country  can  boast. 
They  had  been  driven  from  their  home  in  Martins- 
burg,  Va.,  where  Mr.  Keid  was  preaching,  and  were 
refugees  for  several  months,  Mr.  R  barely  escaping 
with  his  life.  They  know  full  well  what  it  costs  to 
be  loyal  to  the  flag  of 'their  country  in  these  peril 
ous  times,  having  sacrificed  everything  but  life  itself 
in  its  defence.  When  treason  became  so  bold  and 
threatening  that  he  no  longer  dare  pray,  as  had 
been  his  wont,  for  the  President  of  the  United 
States  and  his  advisers,  he  would  pray  for  those  in 
authority,  "  and  the  Lord  knew/'  he  says,  "  I  did 
not  mean  Jeff.  Davis."  Their  sacrifice  and  sufferings 


THE   BOYS    IN    WHITE.  27 

have   only  made  the  fires  of  loyalty  burn  with,  an 
intenser  heat  upon  the  altar  of  their  hearts. 

The  second  day  after  our  arrival,  Chaplain  Ander 
son,  of  the  Third  Michigan  Volunteers,  called  to  see 
us ;  also,  some  of  the  good  loyal  ladies  of  the  city 
— of  whom  I  am  sorry  to  learn  there  are  so  few — 
and  extended  their  kind  sympathy.  We  felt  very 
grateful  to  those  dear  friends:  we  did  not  expect  to 
find  so  much  true  sympathy  among  strangers.  But, 
oh !  they  could  not  heal  the  wound  that  death  had 
made. 

Sept.  16  to. 

To-day  we  visited  the  Lyceum  Hospital,  where  so 
recently  dear  Orville  took  his  leave  of  earth.  Only 
a  few  days  ago  he  was  among  the  sufferers  there; 
now  he  is  forever  at  rest.  The  hospital  is  full  of 
the  wounded  from  the  late  battles,  suffering,  oh,  so 
much,  and  yet  so  patiently !  There  are  many  others 
upon  whom  Death  has  already  set  his  seal,  and  whose 
places  will  soon  be  vacant,  or  occupied  by  others. 
Oh,  how  I  long  to  stay  and  go  to  work  for  them! 
Perhaps  I  might  be  the  means  of  saving  somebody's 
husband  or  brother. 

This  hospital  was  in  a  most  wretched  condition 
until  the  advent  of  Miss  Jones,  under  whose  wise 
management  and  untiring  efforts  it  has  greatly  im- 


28  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

proved.  Everything  that  woman  can  do  will  be 
done  by  "her  for  her  "boys,"  as  she  calls  them.  She 
is  indeed  an  angel  of  mercy  to  those  poor  sufferers. 
Mrs.  May,  wife  of  Chaplain  May,  of  the  Second 
Michigan,  called  on  us  this  afternoon.  She  is  one 
of  those  who  has  a  heart  to  sympathize  with  the 
afflicted  everywhere. 

During  the  day  we  have  had  some  business  to 
attend  to  concerning  my  deceased  brother's  effects 
and  back  pay.  But  now,  as  the  shades  of  another 
night  draw  around  us,  and  all  is  hushed  and  still, 
what  thronging  memories  come !  How  keen,  how 
intense  the  agony  of  mind  under  God's  afflictive 
dispensations,  and  how  hard  at  such  times,  without 
large  supplies  of  grace,  to  say  from  the  heart,  "  Even 
so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight ! " 

Sept.  VI ili. 

This  morning  we  took  leave  of  our  kind  host 
and  lady,  the  dear  Miss  Jones,  and  other  friends, 
and,  with  one  long,  lingering  look  at  that  hospi 
tal,  around  which,  to  us,  a  sacred  solemnity  still 
lingers,  hastened  to  the  wharf  and  took  the  first 
boat  to  "Washington.  We  had  scarcely  landed,  when 
a  fine-looking  officer  approached  us,  and  extended  his 
hand  to  my  sister,  inquiring  at  the  same  time, 
"Did  you  find  your  husband?'7  She  could  make 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  29 

no  reply ;  there  was  no  need  of  words,  he  understood 
it  all.  We  soon  recognized  the  countenance  of  Lieu 
tenant  Stevenson,  of  the  Second  Michigan  Volun 
teers,  with  whom  we  fell  in  company  on  our  way  to 
Washington.  In  a  moment  he  is  gone,  and  we  see 
him  no  more;  but  the  earnest  solicitude  of  the 
stranger  to  know  whether  our  fond  hopes  were  real 
ized,  and  his  kind  sympathy  in  our  affliction,  will 
long  be  cherished  as  one  of  the  pleasant  remem 
brances  of  this  sad  journey.  And  we  will  pray  God 
to  watch  over  and  protect  him  and  return  him  in 
safety  to  his,  dear  family.  But  should  he  fall  amid 
the  din  of  battle,  or  become  a  victim  to  disease,  may 
kind  hands  administer  to  his  wants,  and  loving,  sym 
pathizing  friends  comfort  the  bereaved  widow  and 
orphans.  We  engage  a  room  for  the  night  at  Mr. 
Treadway's,  a  family  formerly  from  Detroit,  now  re 
siding  at  No.  541  H  Street  (which  has  since  become 
noted  as  the  place  where  that  dark  assassination 
plot  was  concocted  which  robbed  the  nation  of  its 
chosen  leader),  and  then  call  to  see  Hon.  J.  M.  Ed 
munds,  .  President  of  the  Michigan  Soldiers1  Relief 
Association,  to  learn  what  was  necessary  to  be  done 
in  order  to  secure  a  pension  for  my  sister.  He  re 
ceived  us  kindly,  and  gave  us  the  desired  informa 
tion. 

My  mind  is   at   length    made   up   to  remain,    and 


30  THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

engage  in  the  work  of  caring  for  the  sick  and 
wounded,  as  my  desire  to  do  so  has  increased  with 
every  day  and  almost  every  hour  since  our  arrival. 
I  am  also  encouraged  to  do  so  by  Mrs.  Brainard, 
an  agent  of  the  Michigan  Association,  boarding  at 
this  place. 

Sept.  18th. 

Sister  Anna  and  Mrs.  Peck  started  for  Michigan 
this  morning.  One  week  ago  to-day,  we  left  home 
for  this  city.  Oh !  what  bitter  experiences,  what 
anxious  fears,  what  terrible  suspense,  what  dreadful 
realities  have  been  ours  in  this  one  short  week! 
As  I  bade  my  sister  "  good-by "  at  the  cars,  she 
exclaimed,  "  Oh,  Julia !  How  can  I  return  to  my 
children  without  their  father?  Their  injunction, 
'Be  sure  and  bring  papa  home  with  you,'  still 
rings  in  my  ears.7'  My  heart  was  too  heavily 
burdened  to  reply;  the  train  moved  on;  I  retraced 
my  steps,  and  have  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day 
in  my  room  lonely  and  sad,  reflecting  upon  the  past 
and  trying  to  penetrate  the  future. 

A  few  days  after  my  sister's  arrival  home,  in 
stead  of  joy  and  gladness,  the  friends  meet  with 
bowed  heads  and  stricken  hearts  to  observe  the  sol 
emn  services  of  a  soldier's  funeral.  Eev.  Isaac  Er- 
rett  officiated.  His  sermon  being  extemporaneous, 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  31 

not  even  a  synopsis  of  it  was  preserved.      The  fol 
lowing  appropriate  hymn  was  sung: 

"  Servant  of  God,  well  done  ! 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ. 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won — 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy. 

u  At  midnight  comes  the  cry, 

'  To  meet  thy  God  prepare  1 ' 
He  woke  and  caught  his  Captain's  eye. 
Then,  strong  in  faith  and  prayer, 

"  His  spirit,  with  a  bound, 

Left  its  encumbering  clay  ; 
His  tent,  at  sunrise,  on  the  ground 
A  darkened  ruin  lay. 

"  Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done  ! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ ; 

And,  while  eternal  ages  run, 

Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy." 


I  remained  at  Mr.  Tread  way's  until  the  31st,  and, 
while  awaiting  an  opening  for  work,  visited  hospi 
tals  with  Mrs.  Brainard.  The  25th,  I  saw  for  the 
first  time  the  wounded  as  they  came  from  the  battle 
field—the  bloody  field  of  Antietam.  They  were 
taken  to  the  Patent  Office  Hospital.  Oh !  those 
bloody,  mangled  forms  will  long  be  fresh  in  mem- 


32  THE   BOYS    IN    WHITE. 

ory.  Some  were  able,  with  the  help  of  a  comrade, 
to  crawl  up  the  stairs,  while  others  were  carried 
up  on  stretchers.  A  few  moans  were  heard,  but 
no  complaining,  and  no  loud  groaning,  as  I  expected 
to  hear.  Mrs.  B.  had  a  basket  filled  with  cakes  and 
crackers,  which  we  handed  them  as  they  were  car 
ried  past  us.  How  eagerly  they  were  caught  by 
those  who  had  an  arm  to  raise. 

The  sight  was  too  much  for  me  ;  I  was  completely 
unnerved,  and  found  it  impossible  to  conceal  the 
emotions  so  deeply  stirred  in  my  inmost  soul.  I 
returned  to  my  room  to  weep  over  the  sufferings 
I  was  powerless  to  alleviate.  Oh,  cruel,  cruel  war  ! 


Sept. 

This  morning  I  received  an  appointment  from 
Judge  Edmunds,  as  visiting  agent  for  the  society 
of  which  he  is  the  President.  Alexandria  is  to  be 
my  field  of  labor  for  the  present  —  the  very  place  I 
had  wished  and  prayed  for,  since  there  the  object 
of  my  hopes,  only  two  weeks  ago  so  bright,  lies 
buried.  How  rejoiced  I  am  in  the  prospect  of 
work.  I  trust  I  shall  be  enabled  to  do  some  little 
good  —  to  alleviate  some  poor  sufferer,  and.  to  en 
courage  the  desponding. 

During  my  short  stay  in  "Washington  I  have  seen 
but  little  —  speaking  of  tke  city  itself  —  to  attract 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  33 

notice.  The  public  buildings  are  very  fine,  the  Cap 
itol  magnificent;  remove  these,  and  Washington  is 
shorn  of  its  beauty. 

Sept.  BQth. 

I  came  over  to  Alexandria  this  morning,  in  com 
pany  with  Mrs.  Brainard,  Mrs.  Colonel  Fenton, 
and  Miss  Moor.  I  have  engaged  board  at  Mrs. 
May's,  at  five  dollars  per  week.  Soon  after 
arriving,  an  ambulance,  which  Mrs.  M.  had  ordered, 
reported,  and  we  all  went  out  to  Fairfax  Seminary 
Hospital,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles  from  the 
city.  This  is  a  large  hospital,  and  will  accommodate 
several  hundred  patients.  It  is  situated  in  a  delight 
ful  place,  standing  on  a  high  eminence,  and  com 
manding  a  fine  view  of  the  country  for  miles  around. 
It  was  formerly  a  theological  seminary  ;  hence  Semi 
nary  Hospital.  The  patients  appeared  comfortable, 
and,  as  a  general  thing,  cheerful.  The  hospital  wore 
an  air  of  neatness,  which  made  it  seem  quite  home 
like.  On  our  way  back  we  called  at  the  hospital 
of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  which  we  found  much 
more  comfortable  than  I  expected;  in  fact,  I  think 
those  large  airy  tents  are  much  better  for  hospital 
purposes  than  close  rooms.  The  country,  before  the 
war,  must  have  been  beautiful ;  but  now,  so  desolate ! 
Fences  gone,  buildings  in  ruins,  shrubbery  destroyed, 
fields  uncultivated  —  all  showing  the  sad  effects  of 


34  THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

desolating  war  —  while  in  every  direction  may  be 
seen  the  " canvas  home"  of  the  soldier.  Frequently 
we  passed  squads  of  men  under  drill  —  recruits,  I 
suppose  —  their  glistening  bayonets  and  gleaming 
swords  sparkling  and  flashing  in  the  sunlight,  inno 
cent  of  the  destructive,  work  they  will  soon  aid  in 
executing.  Every  now  and  then  we  caught  sight  of 
the  stars  and  stripes  proudly  floating  from  some 
strongly  •  fortified  place,  with  its  big  guns  bidding 
defiance  to  the  enemy.  At  almost  every  step  I  was 
reminded  of  that  dear  brother,  who  only  three  weeks 
ago  closed  his  eyes  in  death,  and  now  lies  buried  in 
yonder  cemetery.  He  no  more  rallies  at  the  bugle's 
call,  or  starts  at  the  tap  of  the  drum,  but  he  sleeps 
with  his  comrades  in  arms,  in  the  sacred  soil  "  of  his 
toric  old  Virginia"  where,  through  the  branches  of  the 
tall  cedars  over  his  head,  the  sighing  winds  of  au 
tumn  sing  his  requiem,  and  the  placid  waters  of  the 
Potomac  murmur  at  his  feet. 

"  Sleep,  brother,  sleep,  for  your  last  march  is  ended, 
Thy  bright  morning  star  has  in  midnight  descended  — 
Sleep  'neath  the  flag  which  your  valor  defended, 
War's  battle-drum  shall  awake  you  no  more. 

"  Rest  from  life's  wearisome  troubles  and  sorrows. 
Rest  from  the  griefs  which  assail  us  each  morrow, 
Yours  is  the  peace  that  we  gladly  would  borrow, 
Yours  is  a  joy  of  a  battle  safe  o'er.  " 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  35 

Oct.  1st. 

To-day,  the  date  at  which  my  journal  begins,  I  have 
spent  nearly  all  my  time  in  the  hospitals ;  in  fact  this 
has  been  my  first  hospital  work,  though  having  been 
to  them  before,  but  simply  as  a  visitor.  Now  I  have 
something  to  do,  and  I  am  happy  in  the  hope  of 
being  able  to  do  some  good.  The  experience  of  this 
day  teaches  me  that  no  one — especially  a  lady — who 
is  in  sympathy  with  our  cause  can  visit  these  hospitals 
without  doing  good.  Her  very  presence  is  cheering 
to  the  soldier.  A  kind,  cheerful  look,  a  smile  of  re 
cognition,  one  word  of  encouragement,  enables  him  to 
bear  his  sufferings  more  bravely. 

I  am  now,  where  I  have  earnestly  prayed  to  be 
ever  since  the  war  began,  among  the  sick  and  wound 
ed,  that  I  might  in  some  degree  supply  personal 
wants  and  relieve  present  necessities ;  yet  I  have  never 
seen  an  opening  before.  But  that  mysterious  Provi 
dence  "whose  ways  are  past  finding  out "  has  appoint 
ed  me  a  field  of  labor,  the  path  hereto  passing 
through  the  deep  waters  of  affliction.  I  sometimes 
I  eel  like  exclaiming, 

O  God !  I  dare  not  pray, 

Thou  answerest  in  so  strange  a  way. 


36  THE  BOYS   IN    WHITE. 


CHAPTER  III. 


MICHIGAN  RELIEF  ASSOCIATION— ALEXANDRIA  HOSPITALS— CON 
VALESCENT  CAMP— FORT  LYON— GENERAL  BERRY'S  BRIG 
ADE — SOLDIER'S  BURIAL — REBEL  WOMEN — EVENING  WORK 

— DEATH  OF  MICHIGAN  SOLDIERS. 

PERHAPS  I  ought  here  to  give  a  brief  account  of 
the  Society  with  which  I  was  connected.  This  As 
sociation  was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  but 
was  not,  according  to  the  report  of  one  of  its  officers, 
called  into  full  activity  until  the  spring  of  1862. 
"  This  was  the  first  organization  of  the  kind  upon 
the  Atlantic  slope,  and  the  last  to  leave  it."  Its  offi 
cers  at  the  time  I  became  a  member  were:  Hon.  J. 
M.  Edmunds,  of  Detroit,  President;  S.  York  Atlee, 
of  Kalamazoo,  and  Mr.  F.  Myers,  Vice-Presidents; 
Dr.  H.  J.  Alvord,  of  Detroit,  Secretary;  and  Z.  Moses, 
of  Grand  Kapids,  Treasurer. 

Mrs.  Brainard  and  myself  were  at  this  time  the 
only  regularly  employed  visiting  agents,  and  were 
the  only  agents  who  remained  with  the  Association 
year  after  year.  Others  were  employed  for  a  few 
weeks  or  months,  as  the  exigencies  of  the  times  de- 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE*  87 

raanded.  Our  time  and  labor  were  gratuitously  be 
stowed,  as  were  also  the  services  of  the  officers; 
hence  it  will  be  seen  that  it  cost  comparatively  little 
to  keep  the  "institution"  running — a  large  propor 
tion  of  all  the  funds  received  going  to  the  direct  re 
lief  of  our  needy  soldiers.  The  above-named  officers, 
with  the  exception  of  one  of  the  Yice-Presidents  and 
the  Secretary,  remained  with  the  Association  during 
the  entire  period  of  its  existence,  and  were  earnest 
and  efficient  laborers.  I  will  now  give  a  condensed 
report  of  my  work  for  the  month  of  October,  1862 : 

This  was  my  initiation  month.  I  spent  my  time 
in  preparing  and  distributing  supplies  to  the  hospi 
tals  in  the  city — of  which  there  were  fourteen,  in 
cluding  some  twenty  different  buildings — and  the 
surrounding  camps.  These  hospitals  would  accom 
modate  from  two  to  fifteen  hundred  patients  each. 
All  of  the  largest  and  finest  private  residences,  the 
churches — with  two  exceptions — school  buildings,  and 
hotels,  were  converted  into  hospitals.  The  largest  of 
these  was  the  "Mansion  House,"  formerly  known  as 
the  old  "Braddock  House,"  in  one  of  the  rooms 
of  which — at  this  time  used  for  an  office — General 
George  Washington  held  his  Councils  of  War.  The 
same  old  furniture  was  still  in  use. 

Our  Michigan  soldiers  were  scattered  through  all 
these  hospitals,  and  to  find  out  and  visit  every  one 


88  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

was  no  small  task,  it  being  almost  a  day's  work  to 
go  through  one  of  the  largest.  After  having  gone 
the  rounds  once,  and  obtained  a  list  of  the  names  of 
those  I  was  to  visit,  the  number  of  their  ward,  and 
what  each  one  needed,  the  work  of  supplying  these 
wants  would  have  been  comparatively  light,  were  it 
not  for  the  changes  which  were  constantly  taking 
place  by  death,  discharges,  transfers,  furloughs,  new 
arrivals,  and  returns  to  duty,  which  were  of  almost 
daily  occurrence. 

In  my  visits  to  these  hospitals  I  seldom  went 
empty-handed;  sometimes  taking  cooked  tomatoes 
or  stewed  fruit,  at  others,  chicken  broth,  pickles, 
butter,  cheese,  jelly,  tea  hot  from  the  stove,  and,  in 
addition  to  these,  I  would  frequently  buy  oranges, 
lemons,  and  fresh  fruit,  according  as  the  appetite 
seemed  to  crave.  Besides,  I  gave  out  clothing  to 
those  most  in  need — such  as  shirts,  drawers,  socks, 
slippers,  dressing-gowns,  towels  and  handkerchiefs, 
also  stationery  and  reading-matter.  During  this 
month  I  received  a  nice  box  of  goods  from  Ionia. 
Could  the  donors  have  known  how  much  good  that 
one  box  did,  they  would  have  felt  amply  repaid  for 
all  they  ever  did  for  the  soldiers,  and  encouraged  to 
renewed  efforts  in  the  good  work. 

I  made  several  visits  to  old  "Camp  Convalescent" 
— very  properly  called  "Camp  Misery" — which  was 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  39 

about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  city.  Pen  would 
fail  to  describe  one-half  its  wretchedness.  Here  were 
from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  soldiers — not  simply  the 
convalescent,  but  the  sick  and  dying — many  of  them 
destitute,  with  not  even  a  blanket  or  an  overcoat, 
having  little  or  no  wood,  their  rations  consisting  of 
salt  pork  and  "hard  tack,"  whatever  else  might  have 
been  issued  they  had  no  fire  with  which  to  do  the 
cooking,  consequently  much  of  the  time  they  were 
obliged  to  eat  their  pork  raw.  Oh !  how  many  times 
my  heart  was  wrung  with  pity,  and  indignation  too, 
on  seeing  those  shivering  forms  with  their  thin,  pale 
faces,  cold  and  hunger-pinched,  sitting  upon  the 
sunny  side  of  their  tents,  eating  their  scanty  meal. 

While  our  hearts  were  justly  filled  with  indigna 
tion  toward  the  rebel  government  for  its  inhuman 
treatment  of  their  prisoners,  should  they  not  also 
have  been  toward  our  own,  for  thus  shamefully  ne 
glecting  those  within  its  reach?  I  do  not  pretend 
to  say  that  this  camp  equalled  Southern  prison-pens 
in  degradation  and  wretchedness ;  but  they  were  be 
yond  our  control,  while  over  this  floated  the  flag  of 
our  country.  Think  of  men  sick  with  fever,  pneu 
monia,  or  chronic  diarrhoea,  eating  raw  pork  and 
lying  upon  the  cold,  damp  ground,  with  only  one 
blanket,  and,  it  may  be,  none,  and  the  wonder  will 
be,  not  that  they  died,  but  that  any  recovered.  I 


40  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

would  not  be  understood  to  say  that  all  in  this 
camp  were  thus  feeble  and  destitute,  but  there  were 
many  such;  while,  at  the  same  time,  there  were 
others,  who,  had  they  possessed  a  spirit  of  true  man 
liness  and  patriotism,  would  have  been  ashamed  to 
have  been  seen  hanging  around  the  Convalescents' 
Camp,  but  would  have  been  found  at  the  front,  at 
their  posts  of  duty. 

There  were,  at  this  time,  some  two  hundred  Michi 
gan  men  in  this  camp.  Their  tents  were  pitched  on 
a  side-hill,  so  that,  when  it  rained,  the  water  would 
run  through  them  like  a  river,  in  spite  of  the  little 
trench  surrounding  each  one.  I  was  frequently  told 
that  when  there  was  a  drenching  rain  they  were 
obliged  to  stand  up  all  night  to  keep  their  clothing 
from  being  completely  saturated,  and,  wrapping  their 
blankets  around  them,  they  like  true  soldiers  sub 
mitted  to  their  fate. 

During  the  cold,  chilly  nights,  those  not  fortunate 
enough  to  possess  a  blanket  were  compelled  to  walk 
to  and  fro  the  entire  night  to  keep  warm,  thus  pacing 
off  the  long,  weary  hours  while  waiting  for  the  dawn, 
and,  when  the  sun  was  up,  lie  down  and  slesp  be 
neath  his  cheering  rays,  and  so  prepare  themselves 
for  another  night's  tramp.  Methinks  there  will  be  a 
fearful  account  for  some  one  to  settle  when  the  "  final 
statements  "  are  forwarded  to  the  Court  of  Heaven. 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  41 

In  going  to  "  Camp  Misery "  I  always  tilled  my 
ambulance — when  I  had  one — with  quilts,  under 
clothing,  towels,  handkerchiefs,  pies,  stewed  fruits, 
and  whatever  else  I  happened  to  have  on  hand. 
Mrs.  May  and  daughters  usually  accompanied  me, 
and  assisted  in  distributing  the  goods.  This  was  al 
ways  a  pleasant  task ;  pleasant,  because  some  hearts 
were  made  happier,  and  a  few  shivering  forms  more 
comfortable.  And  yet  there  was  sadness  mingled 
with  all  the  pleasure  experienced  in  this  blessed 
work.  To  have  so  many  cups  presented  as  the  last 
spoonful  of  sauce  was  dished  out,  and  after  the  sup 
ply  of  clothing  had  been  exhausted,  to  hear  the  ap 
peals — "Say,  got  anymore  socks  there?"  "Drawers 
all  gone  ? "  "  Can't  you  let  me  have  a  flannel 
shirt?"  "I've  the  rheumatis  awful."  "Haven't  an 
other  of  those  quilts,  have  you  ? "  "  Pretty  cold 
nights," — and  not  satisfied  until  they  had  taken  a 
peep  into  the  ambulance  to  be  sure  there  was  not 
something  held  in  reserve  for  some  one  more  highly 
favored  than  themselves,  would  produce  a  sadness  of 
heart  which  could  be  relieved  only  by  a  continued 
distribution  of  the  articles  needed.  We  could  only 
tell  them  to  keep  up  good  courage — that  we  would 
come  again  soon,  and  leave  them,  a  little  comforted, 
with  the  hope  of  being  served  the  next  time. 

I  have  sometimes  been  told  that  soldiers  were  not 


42  THE    BOYS   IN"   WHITE. 

half  as  destitute  as  they  often  pretended  to  be,  and 
that  we  were  frequently  imposed  upon.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  the  fact  that  imposition  was  practised  upon 
us  by  unprincipled  men  rendered  the  needy  no  less 
deserving,  and  would  not  have  justified  us  in  ceas 
ing  our  efforts  in  their  behalf.  The  soldier  had  my 
confidence.  I  looked  upon  him  as  good  and  true, 
consequently  I  might  not  have  detected  frauds  as 
readily  as  some ;  neither  do  I  believe  I  was  imposed 
upon  as  frequently  as  I  would  have  been  had  I  al 
ways  doubted  his  word  and  suspected  he  was  trying 
to  deceive  me. 

Then  there  was  the  camp  of  paroled  prisoners, 
where  some  fifteen  hundred  were  waiting  to  be  ex 
changed,  who  demanded  not  only  our  sympathy  but 
our  supplies ;  yet  they  were  not  as  destitute  as  many 
at  Camp  Convalescent,  as  clothing  was  issued  by  the 
Government  soon  after  their  arrival.  Neither  were 
they  as  reduced  and  emaciated  as  many  who  were 
returned  to  us  from  Southern  prisons  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  war.  The  troops  stationed  at  Fort 
Lyons  were  also  greatly  in  need.  Upon  one  of  my 
visits  to  this  fort,  among  other  things  wanted,  one  of 
the  sick — a  young,  delicate-looking  boy — wished  to 
know  if  I  couldn't  bring  him  a  feather-bed ;  but  the 
nearest  I  could  come  to  it  was  a  good  soft  pillow. 
There  was  so  much  needed  and  so  many  to  be  sup- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  43 

plied,  that  the  little  I  could  do  with  the  limited  means 
at  my  disposal  seemed  like  a  drop  of  the  ocean. 

After  one  of  my  visits  to  these  depots  of  misery, 
1  went  out  in  company  with  Mrs.  May  and  daugh 
ters  to  General  Berry's  Brigade,  encamped  near  Mun- 
son's  Hill,  a  few  miles  from  Alexandria.  ,  I  found 
several  of  my  former  friends  and  school-mates,  while 
others,  alas !  were  missing.  Where  were  "  Eldred," 
and  "Birge,"  and  "Woodward?"  Had  they,  too, 
gone  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  "Boys  in  White?" 
Ah  !  yes  ;  young  Birge,  the  Christian  boy,  was  sleep 
ing  at  Fair  Oaks ;  Woodward,  only  a  few  weeks  be 
fore,  closed  his  eyes  in  death  at  Fairfax  Seminary; 
and  Eldred — the  gifted,  the  pride  of  his  class — at 
Georgetown.  They  left  their  books  and  college  halls 
for  the  camp,  the  bivouac,  the  battle-field,  and  a 
soldier's  grave. 

"Let  them  rest,  the  fight  is  over, 
And  the  victory  bravely  won  ; 
Softly  wrap  their  banner  round  them, 
Lay  them  low,  their  work  is  done." 

One  Lord's  Day,  while  visiting  my  brother's  grave, 
I  witnessed,  for  the  first  time,  a  soldier's  burial ;  and 
a  more  solemn  scene  my  eyes  had  never  beheld. 
The  lone  ambulance,  the  plain  coffin,  the  sad  strains 
of  music,  the  slow  tread  of  the  escort,  the  salute  fired 


44  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

over  the  grave,  the  absence  of  all  mourning  friends, 
rendered  the  scene  peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive ! 

Who  would  believe  that  the  human  heart  could 
ever  become  so  lost  to  all  feelings  of  humanity  as  to 
rejoice  and  exult  over  the  sufferings  and'  death  of 
even  an  enemy  ?  And  yet  I  was  told  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Eeid  that  he  had  seen  those  calling  themselves 
ladies  dance  to  the  tune  of  the  "  Dead  March,"  and 
clap  their  hands  and  exclaim,  "  Grood,  good  !  there 
goes  another  Yankee ! "  on  seeing  a  soldier's  funeral 
procession  passing  slowly  to  the  city  of  the  dead. 
This  seems  almost  incredible,  but  Mr.  E.'s  word  is 
unimpeachable.  Eebel  women  there  were  exceed 
ingly  bitter  toward  the  North — that  "Hydra-headed 
monster,"  Secession,  being  the  great  object  of  their 
worship.  All'  the  finer  feelings  and  tender  sympa 
thies  of  woman's  nature  seem  to  have  given  place  to 
malignant  hate  and  fiend-like  cruelty. 

I  devoted  my  time  evenings  to  cooking  and  pre 
paring  things  for  distribution  at  the  hospitals  next 
day.  The  24th  inst.  I  went  to  Camp  Convalescent 
with  forty-two  pies  and  several  gallons  of  sauce. 
The  boys  seemed  to  think  a  piece  of  dried-apple- 
pie,  however  plain,  one  of  the  greatest  luxuries 
they  ever  enjoyed.  The  moment  it  was  known 
there  were  pies  in  camp  our  ambulance  would  be 
surrounded,  and  we,  the  occupants,  literally  taken 


THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE.  45 

prisoners;  some  begging  for  themselves,  others  for  a 
sick  comrade  who  was  unable  to  leave  the  quarters. 
At  such  times  how  earnestly  I  have  wished  that  the 
miracle  of  the  "  loaves  and  fishes  "  might  be  repeated. 
The  last  three  or  four  days  of  the  month  I  spent 
in  going  the  rounds  of  the  hospitals  attending  to 
special  cases;  and  ere  its  close  many  a  noble  heart 
ceased  to  beat,  many  a  manly  form  was  cold  in 
death,  and  many  a  newly-made  grave  might  have 
been  seen  in  the  Soldier's  Cemetery;  yet  compara 
tively  few  of  the  Michigan  soldiers  in  the  hospitals 
I  Visited  died — only  four,  I  believe- -two  of  the 
Eighth,  one  of  the  Sixteenth  Infantry,  and  poor 
William  Eaton,  of  the  First  Cavalry,  who  lingered 
beyond  all  expectation.  He  was  the  first  Michigan 
soldier  that  died  to  whom  my  attention  was  particu 
larly  called,  and  for  whom  I  had  felt  a.  special  in 
terest,  and  his  death  seemed  like  taking  another 
from  our  already  broken  circle. 

"Warrior,  rest!   thy  toils  are  ended, 

Life's  last  fearful  strife  is  o'er; 
Clarion-calls  with  death-notes  blended 
Shall  disturb  thine  ear  no  more. 

"Peaceful  is  thy  dreamless  slumber; 

Peaceful,  but  how  cold  and  stern; 

Thou  hast  joined  that  silent  number, 

In  the  lund  whence  none  return." 


46  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MOUNT  VERNON —  JOHN  DOWNEY  —  CHAPLAIN  HOPKINS — MRS. 
MUNSELL — COLD  WEATHER— NEW  ARRIVALS — GEN.  BERRY 
AND  DR.  BONINE — DEATH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  SOLDIERS — 
THANKSGIVING — RED  TAPE — KIDNAPPING. 

November  4th. 

As  a  party,  consisting  of  Dr.  Bonine  and  wife,  Mrs. 
May  and  daughters,  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  wife  of  Adju 
tant  Johnson,  of  the  Second  Michigan  volunteers,  were 
going  to  Mount  Yernon  this  forenoon,  they  insisted 
upon  my  going  with  them,  and  as  I  had  never  been 
there,  and  fearing  that  another  opportunity  might  not 
present  itself  during  my  stay  here,  I  consented  to  do 
so,  provided  they  would  call  at  Camp  Convalescent 
on  their  way,  as  I  had  a  few  quilts  to  dispose  of. 
My  request  being  granted,  we  are  soon  on  our  way ; 
arriving  at  camp,  we  distribute  our  quilts,  and  head 
our  horses  for  Mount  Yernon,  seven  miles  from  Alex 
andria.  It  is  nearly  noon  when  we  arrive,  and  a  few 
minutes  after  we  are  within  the  same  walls  where 
once  had  lived  and  died  the  "  Father  of  his  country." 
The  mansion  is  a  two-story  frame  building,  made  in 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  47 

imitation  of  marble,  with  a  colonnade  fronting  the 
river.  "We  are  conducted  through  the  house — that  is, 
the  portion  of  it  open  to  the  public — by  the  gentleman 
in  charge  of  the  estate,  whom,  I  am  sorry  to  learn,  is 
a  secessionist.  There  are  but  few  articles  of  furniture 
left — an  old  harpsichord,  table,  sofa,  a  large  blue  plat 
ter,  and  a  bedstead — is  about  all.  The  bedstead,  said 
to  be  afac-simile  of  the  one  on  which  that  great  and 
good  man  died,  stands  in  the  room  which  witnessed 
the  closing  scene  of  his  life— a  pleasant  room  on  the 
second  floor,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  Potomac. 
As  I  stood  and  looked  out  upon  the  lovely  landscape 
before  me,  I  could  not  help  thinking  how  many  times 
"Washington  had  looked  from  the  same  window,  upon 
the  same  scenery — the  same  pleasant  grove,  the  same 
sweet  flowers,  the  same  grand  old  Potomac.  But  now 
he  sleeps  peacefully  amid  all  these  beauties — he  heeds 
not  the  tread  of  the  stranger— the  sound  of  the  war- 
drum  disturbs  not  his  slumbers. 

In  one  of  the  rooms  is  "Washington's  knapsack,  hol 
sters,  and  medicine-chest.  In  the  hall  hangs  the  largo 
iron  key  of  the  ancient  Bastile  of  France,  presented  to 
General  "Washington  by  General  La  Fayette.  The 
ceilings  are  stuccoed  and  contain  many  curious  de 
vices,  such  as  flowers,  human  figures,  implements  of 
husbandry,  etc. 

Having  finished  our  visit  here,  we  repair  to  the 


48  THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

flower-garden,  through  which  we  are  conducted  by  a, 
colored  man,  who  claims  to  have  been  a  slave  of  Gen 
eral  Washington.  "  I've  lived  here  right  smart ;  heap 
o'  years  afore  mass'  and  missis  died,"'  he  tells  us. 
This  garden  is  beautiful,  but  sadly  neglected.  The 
greenhouse*  contains  many  choice  plants.  A  var 
iety  of  evergreens  and  stately  forest  trees,  including  a 
large  and  beautiful  magnolia — which  we  are  told 
Washington  brought  from  Florida  and  planted  with 
his  own  hands — constitute  a  fine  grove  in  front  of  the 
mansion.  We  gathered  a  few  stray  leaves,  which  had 
fallen  to  the  ground,  as  precious  mementoes  of  the 
place.  But  the  most  sacred  spot  is  yet  to  be  visited — 
the  vault — where  are  deposited  the  remains  of  that 
noble  couple,  George  and  Martha  Washington.  We 
approach  the  sleeping  dead  with  slow  and  cautious 
step,  for  it  seems  that  we  are  treading  upon  holy 
ground.  Oh,  what  memories  cluster  around  this  ven 
erated  tomb  I  The  past  and  the  present  are  strangely 
linked  together.  The  principle  of  universal  liberty, 
for  which  he  fought,  is  that  for  which  we  are  now  con 
tending.  In  the  outer  apartment  of  the  vault  are  two 
large  sarcophagi,  which  can  plainly  be  seen  through 
the  iron  grating ;  but  the  remains  are  deposited  in  the 
inner  apartment.  On  either  side  of  the  tomb  are 
monuments  erected  to  the  memory  of  different  mem- 

*  Since  burned. 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  49 

bers  of  the  family.  We  gather  a  few  pebbles  from 
the  vault  as  sacred  relics  from  a  consecrated  tomb, 
and  leave  the  sainted  dead  to  their  silent  slumbers. 

We  next  direct  our  steps  to  the  spring-house,  which 
is  situated  far  down  the  bank;  we  drink  of  the  crys 
tal  waters  of  the  spring,  take  a  peep  into  the  house, 
and  clamber  back  up  the  steep  hill,  return  to  the 
mansion,  rest  for  a  few  moments,  drink  once  more  of 
the  sparkling  water  from  the  "  old  oaken  bucket  that 
hangs  in  the  well,"  bid  farewell  to  Mount  Yernon,  and 
are  soon  safely  at  home  again ;  and,  though  tired  and 
hungry,  we  feel  that  the  trip  has  not  been  a  lost  oppor 
tunity.  We  saw  nothing  more  of  the  rebel  officer 
whom  we  met  on  our  way  down,  when  we  all  so 
much  regretted  that  none  of  our  party  was  armed,  in 
which  case  he  would  have  been  halted ;  for  the  idea  of 
returning  from  a  pleasure  excursion  with  a  captured 
prisoner  was  not  only  romantic,  but  pleasing,  espe 
cially  as  our  party  consisted — with  one  exception — en 
tirely  of  ladies.  Mount  Yernon  has  not,  like  most  places 
of  the  South,  been  visited  with  the  ravages  of  war,  it 
being  neutral  ground,  and  held  sacred  by  both  armies. 

LINES  SUGGESTED  ON  LEAVING  THE  TOMB  OF  WASHINGTON. 

Sleep  on,  brave  warrior,  sleep, 
Thy  work  on  earth  is  done  ; 
Sleep  on — thy  mission  is  fulfilled, 
And  thou  a  golden  crown  hast  won. 


50  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

Sleep  on,  brave  heart,  sleep  on, 
While  o'er  thy  tomb  we  weep, 
And  bow  in  humbleness  of  heart, 
With  holy  reverence  meet. 

Sleep  on  and  take  your  rest, 

O  noble  patriot  sire  ; 

By  old  Potomac's  placid  wave 

We  leave  you  sleeping  sweetly  there. 

November  5th. 

Having  heard  that  there  was  a  young  man  in  one  of 
the  hospitals  at  Georgetown,  who  was  with  my  dear 
brother  while  he  lay  on  the  battle-field,  after  he  had 
received  his  fatal  wound,  I  resolved  to  see  him  and 
learn,  if  possible,  the  particulars  of  those  long  weary 
days  and  nights  of  suffering,  preceding  his  removal  to 
the  hospital.  I  went,  therefore,  this  morning,  and, 
after  searching  through  five  hospitals,  found  him,  and 
learned  from  him  more  of  the  care  my  brother  receiv 
ed  than  I  had  ever  known  before. 

This  soldier,  John  Downey,  belonged  to  the  same 
company  with  my  brother — Co.  K,  Eighth  Michigan 
Infantry — and  though  himself  wounded,  he  refused  to 
leave  his  friend  until  he  saw  him  removed  from  the 
field,  each  day  managing  to  furnish  a  little  some 
thing  for  him  to  eat,  and  a  cup  of  hot  coffee,  and  stif 
fening  himself  to  be  taken  prisoner  rather  than  for 
sake  his  comrade.  He  tried  to  sjet  a  surgeon  to  dress 


f 

THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  51 

his  wounds,  but  could  not  until  it  was  too  late,  as  each 
had  to  wait  his  turn  where  there  were  so  many  to  be 
cared  for. 

Brother  was  wounded  late  in  the  afternoon  of  Sep 
tember  1,  and  lay  on  the  field  until  the  evening  of 
the  5th,  arrived  at  Alexandria  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  and  died  on  the  9th.  Before  leaving  the  battle 
field  he  seemed  to  realize  that  he  could  not  live,  and 
committed  to  the  keeping  of  young  Downey  photo 
graphs  of  his  family  which  he  had  carried  with  him 
since  first  entering  the  service,  saying,  "  Should  I  not 
recover,  please  send  these  to  my  wife."  The  request 
has  been  granted.  He  saw  him  as  he  was  put  into 
the  ambulance,  after  the  amputation  of  his  limb,  for 
that  painful  ride  to  Alexandria,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles  or  more.  Noble  boy !  I  shall  ever  hold  him  in 
grateful  remembrance  for  his  kindness  to  my  dying 
brother. 

Hundreds  of  others  were  brought  in  that  night  in 
the  same  way.  Oh,  what  untold  suffering  those  long 
weary  miles  witnessed !  During  that  tedious  journey, 
at  all  hours  of  the  night,  whenever  the  train  halted 
for  a  few  moments'  rest,  two  ministering  spirits  might 
have  been  seen  going  from  ambulance  to  ambulance 
with  canteens  of  water,  bathing  inflamed  wounds,  ad 
justing  the  little  cushions  under  bleeding  "stumps/' 
administering  some  gentle  stimulant  to  those  weak 


52  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

and  exhausted  from  the  loss  of  blood,  speaking  words 
of  encouragement  to  the  desponding,  and  commending 
the  dying  to  the  Saviour.  These  were  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Hopkins,  chaplain  of  the  Mansion  House  Hospital, 
and  Mrs.  Munsell,  a  lady  whose  soul  seems  absorbed 
in  her  work  for  the  soldiers — a  Southern  lady,  a  na 
tive  of  South  Carolina,  but  loyal  and  true.  They 
were  returning  from  the  battle-field,  where  they  had 
been  working  night  and  day  among  the  wounded  and 
dying. 
******* 

As  the  cold  weather  set  in  unusually  early,  and 
continued  for  some  time,  the  number  of  sick  increased 
very  rapidly. 

The  18th  inst.,  Dr.  Cleveland,  of  the  Second  Mich 
igan,  came  in  from  the  front  with  two  hundred  sick, 
one  of  whom  died  on  the  way.  Large  accessions  were 
also  made  to  our  hospitals  from  the  surrounding 
camps,  especially  the  old  Convalescent ;  and  new  ar 
rivals  always  implied  increased  labor.  Of  the  sick 
thus  brought  in,  death  kindly  relieved  many  of  their 
sufferings;  yet  I  remember  but  two  from  Michigan 
who  died  that  month.  These  were  Henry  T.  Gilmore 
of  the  Eighth,  and  Daniel  Morrell  of  the  Fifth  Volun 
teers.  The  last  named  I  saw  many  times.  Poor  boy ! 
he  lingered  days  after  it  became  apparent  that  he 
must  die.  It  was  my  privilege  frequently  to  admin- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  53 

ister  to  his  wants,  though  I  met  with  some  opposition 
from  the  surgeon  -in-charge.  He  told  me  his  patients 
were  sometimes  injured  by  persons  coming  in  and 
distributing  food  indiscriminately  to  them ;  and  what 
he  would  be  glad  for  one  patient  to  have,  would  be 
injurious  to  another.  But  I  still  insisted  upon  taking 
nourishment  to  Daniel,  as  he  couldn't  relish  anything 
cooked  in  the  hospital.  I  finally  obtained  the  doc 
tor's  consent,  provided  I  would  bring  only  such  and 
such  articles.  Having  previously  learned  from  the 
nurses  what  he  was  allowed  to  eat,  I  complied  with 
the  surgeon's  wishes.  I  always  made  it  a  rule  to  do 
so,  believing  that  their  judgment  was  superior  to 
mine,  or  at  least  ought  to  be,  though  I  sometimes  saw 
those  whom  I  thought  knew  less. 

Toward  evening  of  the  10th,  after  visiting  hospitals 
all  day,  I  called  at  the  Lyceum  Hall,  where  I  found 
Sergeant  Colburn,  a  noble  Massachusetts  soldier, 
dying.  He  had  suffered  long  months  from  the  effects 
of  three  fearful  wounds,  yet  he  had  always  appeared 
hopeful;  but  those  ghastly  wounds  had  made  too  great 
a  drain  upon  his  system.  Nature  yielded  to  the  stern 
mandate  of  the  "  king  of  terrors."  I  sat  by  his  bed 
side  some  two  hours  bathing  his  parched  lips  and 
heated  brow,  and  watching  the  flickering  taper  of  life, 
slowly  yet  surely  burning  out;  but  as  there  was  a 
prospect  of  his  lingering  some  hours  longer,  and  hav- 


54  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

ing  other  duties  to  attend  to,  I  rose  to  go,  promising 
to  call  again  in  the  morning.  He  extended  his  cold, 
bony  hand,  and  bade  me  "  good-by,"  while  he  gave 
me  a  look  that  said,  "You  will  not  see  me  in  the 
morning."  And  sure  enough,  the  next  morning  all 
that  remained  of  Sergeant  Colburn  was  the  clay  ten 
ement  robed  in  white.  The  brother  whom  he  had  s<* 
anxiously  hoped  to  see  ere  his  departure  arrived  soor 
after  his  death,  and  returned  with  the  remains  of  this 
once  noble  form  to  the  stricken  band  at  home.  And 
thus  one  after  another  sealed  his  devotion  to  his  coun 
try  with  his  life-blood,  "  all  warm  from  his  heart." 

Never  more  the  roar  of  battle 
E'er  shall  break  our  soldier's  sleep — • 
Safe  the  rest  they  won,  and  o'er  it 
Angel  sentries  guardiance  keep. 

November  27th. 

Thansgiving  day,  Miss  Jones  came  on  from  Phila 
delphia  with  a  sumptuous  dinner  for  her  boys  in  .Ly 
ceum  Hospital.  She  had  eight  barrels  and  five  boxes 
filled  with  good  things,  consisting  of  vegetables  of  all 
kinds,  fruits,  roast  turkey,  nice  home-made  bread,  but 
ter,  cheese,  pickles,  jellies,  tea,  coffee,  sugar,  celery, 
etc.  It  was  a  complete  surprise,  and,  as  may  be  ima 
gined,  a  joyful  one.  It  was  my  happy  privilege  to 
assist  in  preparing  and  distributing  this  beautiful 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  55 

Thanksgiving  dinner.  After  all  had  eaten  until  they 
could  eat  no  more,  there  still  remained  several  barrels 
unopened,  which  Miss  Jones  took  to  Camp  Convales 
cent  and  distributed  among  the  poor,  half-fed  soldiers 
belonging  to  her  own  State.  What  a  luxury,  roast 
turkey  at  this  camp!  When  she  retires  this  night, 
how  happy  she  will  be  in  the  thought  of  having  made 
so  many  hearts  rejoice — while  many  a  "  God  bless 
you  "  will  follow  her  to  her  home.  Truly,  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

In  all  of  our  hospitals  they  have  had  an  extra  din 
ner,  and,  in  some,  pleasant  gatherings  in  the  evening  of 
all  who  are  able  to  leave  their  rooms,  at  which  speech 
es  were  made,  toasts  given,  and  a  general  good  time 
enjoyed. 

******  * 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  November,  I  learned  from 
bitter  experience  the  meaning  of  the  phrase  "red  tape," 
so  commonly  made  use  of  in  the  army. 

I  also  fell  in  with  a  practice  which  I  had  always 
greatly  abhorred,  that  of  kidnapping — not  black  men 
however,  but  white  men — soldiers.  But  in  this  busi 
ness  I  never  had — as  many  kidnappers  must  have — 
any  remorse  of  conscience.  Perhaps  it  was  because  I 
stole  with  the  free  will  and  consent  of  the  stolen,  but 
somehow  I  felt  that  I  was  bidden  "  God-speed."  I 
know  I  had  the  benediction  of  the  soldiers  and  their 


56  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

friends,  and  God's  approval ;  what  more  could  I  ask  ? 
My  kidnapping  consisted  in  bringing  sick  men  from 
Camp  Convalescent  without  permission.  Mj  reason 
for  this  course  will  be  seen  at  length.  At  one  of  my 
visits  to  this — as  the  boys  called  it — "confounded  old 
camp,  "  I  found  several  Michigan  soldiers  very  ill,  ly 
ing  upon  the  cold  damp  ground,  with  no  fire,  no  medi 
cal  attendance,  little  or  nothing  they  could  eat,  with 
such  care  only  as  their  comrades,  under  the  circum 
stances,  could  give.  I  resolved  to  get  them  admitted, 
if  possible,  into  some  hospital  before  I  slept.  So  go 
ing  to  the  commanding  officer — Col.  Belknap — I  told 
him  there  were  several  sick  men  in  camp  whom  I 
wished  to  take  with  me  to  Alexandria.  He  very  po 
litely  refers  me  to  Dr.  Jacobs,  the  surgeon-in-charge, 
who  will  give  permission  to  remove  them.  On  call 
ing  at  his  office,  I  found  that  he  had  left  for  Alexan 
dria  only  a  few  moments  before.  Hurrying  back  to 
Alexandria,  I  find  the  doctor  and  make  my  wishes 
known,  and  receive  the  reply,  "I  will  gladly  do  so, 
but  you  must  first  get  a  written  statement  from  the 
surgeon  of  the  hospital  where  you  wish  to  take  them, 
certifying  that  he  will  admit  them ;  then  come  to  me 
and  I  will  give  you  a  written  permit  to  remove  as  many 
as  you  like. "  "We  drove  over  to  Fairfax  street  Hospi 
tal  in  full  faith  that  the  required  certificate  would  be 
obtained ;  but  imagine  my  disappointment  on  hearing 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  57 

Dr.  Kobertson — who,  by  the  way,  was  one  of  the  kind 
est  and  best  surgeons  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  meet 
while  in  the  army — say,  "  I  wish  I  had  the  authority  to 
give  you  such  a  statement — you  will  have  to  see  Dr. 
Summers.  "  (I  will  here  state  that  these  hospitals 
were  divided  into  the  First,  Second  and  Third  Divi 
sions.  Dr.  K.'s  hospital  was  in  the  first  division,  of 
which  Dr.  S.  had  charge,  and,  consequently,  subject  to 
his  orders. )  My  heart  almost  failed  me  as  I  turned 
away,  for  I  had  but  little  hope  of  success  left,  and  was 
not  much  disappointed  to  hear  Dr.  S.  sternly  say,  "  I 
have  no  authority  to  give  you  any  such  permission. 
You  will  have  to  go  to  Washington  and  see  the  Medi 
cal  Director."  It  was  now  dark,  and  Saturday  at  that, 
consequently  I  could  not  see  the  Medical  Director  be 
fore  Monday.  I  returned  home  well-nigh  discourag 
ed,  but  made  up  my  mind  that,  if  I  lived  to  see  ano 
ther  day,  I  would  go  on  my  own  responsibility  and 
bring  them  away.  So  early  the  next  morning,  "  it  be 
ing  the  first  day  of  the  week,  "  I  sent  for  my  ambu 
lance  and  started  for  camp,  having  first  been  assured 
by  Dr.  Eobertson  that  he  would  assume  the  responsi 
bility  of  admitting  the  boys  into  the  hospital,  in  case  I 
should  succeed  in  getting  them  out  of  camp.  An 
hour  later  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  six  of  them 
safely  quartered  in  Dr.  K.'s  comfortable  hospital,  where 
they  were  kindly  cared  for.  One,  however — Edward 


58  THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

Furnam,  sick  with  pneumonia — needed  care  only  a 
short  time.  He  lingered  a  few  days,  and  then  went  to 
join  the  army  composed  of  the  "boys  in  white.  "  Of 
all  the  soldiers  to  whose  comfort  it  was  my  privilege 
to  administer,  there  is  none  whom  I  remembered  with 
feelings  more  peculiarly  sad.  His  imploring  Icok  for 
help  as  I  saw  him  that  Saturday  evening  in  his  tent 
—his  expressions  of  gratitude  after  his  removal  to  the 
hospital,  the  feeling  experienced  upon  seeing,  so  soon, 
so  unexpectedly,  his  vacant  bed,  have  left  an  indelible 
impress  on  .my  mind.  The  others  recovered,  one  of 
whom  I  was  joyfully  surprised  to  meet  at  Portland, 
Michigan,  last  winter ;  and  who  still  claims  that  his 
timely  removal  from  camp  was  the  means  of  robbing 
Death  of  his  prey. 


THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE.  59 


CHAPTER   V. 


A  CKUEL  EXPERIMENT — THE  QUARREL  —  MY  BROTHER'S  LAST 
LETTER — THE  APOLOGY — SPECIAL  CASES  OF  INTEREST — A 
HAPPY  MEETING  —  BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG — MCVEY 
HOSPITAL  —  REV.  J.  A.  B.  STONE  —  CHRISTMAS — RUMORS  — 
CLOSE  OF  THE  YEAR. 

December  1st. 

QUITE  a  change  in  the  weather.  Though  the  first 
day  of  winter,  it  is  warm  and  pleasant  Have  been  to 
three  hospitals  with  various  articles,  both  of  food  and 
clothing.  At  the  Baptist  Church  I  saw  a  noble- 
looking  man  cold  in  death,  who  might  have  been  liv 
ing  still  but  for  the  wicked  experiment  of  a  surgeon 
in  probing  his  wound,  and  then  injecting  a  substance 
which  so  irritated  the  nervous  system  that  it  produced 
convulsions,  followed  by  lockjaw ;  and  death,  in  a  few 
hours,  was  the  result.  He  was  able  to  be  about  the 
ward  at  the  time  the  probing  was  done,  but  from  that 
moment  he  suffered  the  most  excruciating  pain,  till 
death  came  to  his  relief.  He  leaves  a  wife  and  two 
children  to  mourn  his  untimely  death.  For  the  truth 
of  this  statement,  I  refer  to  Dr.  Hammond — surgeon- 


60  THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

in-charge — in  whose  absence  the  operation  was  per 
formed,  and  from  whom  I  learned  the  above  facts. 

In  St.  Paul's  Hospital,  among  the  many  serious 
cases,  there  is  one  whose  pale  face  and  patient  endu 
rance  of  suffering  have  enlisted  all  my  sympathy.  This 
is  a  New  York  soldier,  a  beautiful  young  man  of  per 
haps  twenty-two  summers.  He  has  received  a  mor 
tal  wound  in  the  body ;  life  is  slowly  ebbing  away, 
and  he  expects  soon  to  receive  a  "  starry  crown,  and 
robe  of  white." 

December  Sd. 

Among  the  hospitals  visited  to-day  was  St.  Paul's, 
where  I  had  a  quarrel  with  a  surgeon.  As  I  entered 
the  hospital  I  met  the  doctor  in  one  of  the  aisles.  I 
saw  at  once  there  was  something  wrong,  but  not  for  a 
moment  thinking  that  I  was  the  "  rock  of  offence,"  when 
in  an  authorative  manner  he  demanded  to  know  what 
I  had  in  that  bowl.  "  Tea,  doctor,"  was  my  reply. 
"  Who  is  it  for  ?  "  "  That  New  York  man  over  there ; 
he  can't  drink  the  tea  made  here,  so  I  bring  him  some 
occasionally — any  objections,  doctor  ?  "  "  I've  no  ob 
jections  to  the  tea,  but  I  don't  want  you  to  bring  any 
more  here."  Before  I  had  time  to  reply,  he  had  left 
the  ward.  As  the  poor  fellow  drank  the  tea,  and  re 
turned  the  bowl — being  weak  and  childish — he  burst 
into  tears  and  begged  me  to  "  come  again, "  while 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  61 

others  expressed  their  regrets,  saying,  "The  doctor  is 
real  mean  to  act  so."  "  Never  you  mind,  boys,"  said 
I ;  "I  shall  surely  come  again;  the  doctor  and  I  will 
have  a  settlement,  and  we  will  find  out  what  all  this 
means."  I  left  the  hospital,  feeling  deeply  grieved  at 
the  rude  treatment  I  had  received ;  having  given,  to 
my  knowledge,  no  provocation  whatever. 

The  evening  after  this  unpleasant  experience,  I 
received  a  letter  from  my  widowed  sister,  enclosing 
my  brother's  photograph ;  also,  a  letter  he  had  written 
a  short  time  before  he  was  wounded — the  last  ever 
traced  by  his  dear  hand  for  me.  It  was  sealed  and 
directed,  but  not  mailed,  having  been  found  after  his 
death  in  his  diary  and  sent  to  his  wife,  who  forwarded 
to  me.  The  following  is  the  letter,  written  only 
twelve  days  before  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  where  he 
received  that  fatal  wound : 

"  CAMP  NEAR  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN,  YA.,  ) 
August  18th,  1862.  j 

"  VERY  DEAR  SISTER — After  so  long  a  delay,  I  at 
tempt  to  answer  your  very  kind  letter,  dated,  I  think, 
about  the  first  of  July.  I  have  not  your  letter  with 
me  now,  as  I  send  all  the  letters  I  get  to  Anna.  It 
was  about  a  month  in  tracing  me  out,  which  ac 
counts  for  your  not  receiving  an  answer  sooner; 
and,  since  receiving  it,  we  have  been  constantly  on 


62  THE   BOYS    IN    WHITE. 

the  move,  and,  as  I  am  still  acting  Orderly  Ser 
geant,  I  have  my  hands  full,  as  you  may  well  im 
agine.  I,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  our  regiment,  have 
seen  some  hard  times  since  leaving  home  last  Spring. 
I  have  seen  the  time  more  than  once  that  it  would 
have  been  a  luxury  to  have  lain  down  in  the  road, 
or  most  any  place.  Had  any  one  told  me  that  I 
could 'have  endured  what  I  have,  I  certainly  should 
not  have  believed  him  ;  yet  I  am  still  in  good  health. 
I  wrote  Anna  yesterday.  I  told  her  you  would  have 
to  wait  until  we  get  settled  before  I  wrote  you,  ex 
pecting  to  be  on  the  move  again  to-day.  But  this 
morning  things  looked  as  though  we  were  going  to 
stay  here  a  day  or  two,  and  I  thought  I  would  write 
you  a  good  long  letter  and  give  you  a  description 
of  the  country  and  of  our  different  marches,  thinking 
perhaps  it  would  interest  you;  but  I  had  scarcely 
began  when  the  order  came  for  *  three  days'  rations 
in  our  haversacks;'  so,  you  see,  we  shall  soon  be  on 
the  march  again.  We  are  at  present  some  four  or 
five  miles  from  Culpepper  Court  House,  and  about 
two  from  the  late  battle-ground.  Jackson  has  re 
treated  across  the  Eapidan,  and  I  presume  we  shall 
cross  over  in  pursuit  of  him.  He.  must  be  overcome, 
cost  what  it  may.  Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  me. 
Do  what  you  can  to  comfort  and  cheer  Anna.  Tell 
her  all  will  yet  be  well.  Our  regiment  is  in  the  9th 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  63 

corps,  which  is  attached  to  '  Pope's  Grand  Army  of 
the  Potomac.'  You  must  watch  the  papers  and  keep 
track  of  our  brigade.  Colonel  Crist  is  in  command ; 
look  for  his  brigade  to  learn  the  fate  of  the  Michigan 
8th.  I  have  much  to  write,  but  must  close.  Eemem- 
ber  me  at  the  Throne  of  Grace. 

"  Your  brother,         ORVILLE  WHEELOCK. 

"  P.  S.—  Direct  to  Co.  K,  8th  Mich.  Yols.,  9th  Corps, 
Washington,  D.  C." 

"  Like  some  bright  vision  of  the  night, 

Or  like  a  meteor's  ray 
Of  brilliancy  upon  the  sight, 

He  calmly  passed  away. 
And  thus  a  gentle  spirit's  gone 

To  seek  its  home  above, 
And  mingle  with  that  holy  throng, 

With  Him  whose  name  is  Love." 


December  6th. 

Cold  and  unpleasant  Have  been  to  St.  Paul's 
again— the  hospital  where  I  had  the  quarrel  a  few 
days  since — with  some  more  tea  and  raspberry-sauce 
for  the  sick.  The  doctor  happened  to  be  in,  making 
his  " grand  round."  Now  is  my  time,  thought  I;  so, 
setting  down  my  dishes,  I  approached  him  and  asked 
an  explanation  of  his  strange  conduct  toward  me  a 


6-i-  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

few  days  before.     He  replied,  in  anything  but  a  plea 
sant  tone :  "  You  are  a  nurse  in  Wolfe  Street  Hos 
pital,  and  have  no  business  to  interfere  with  mine ; 
and  I  don't  want  you  to  come  here  any  more."    "You 
are  mistaken,    doctor.      I   do   not  belong   to  Wolfe 
Street,  or  any  other  hospital,"  was  my  somewhat  in 
dignant  reply.     "Well,  where  do  you  belong?   and 
what  is  your  business  ? "     On  showing  my  appoint 
ment  from   Judge    Edmunds,    I    noticed    a    sudden 
change  in  his  appearance,  and  I  never  saw  any  one 
more  profuse  with  apologies.      "I  acknowledge  my 
rudeness.     I  know  I  was  hasty;  but  I  felt  vexed  to 
think  a  nurse  from  another  hospital   should  trouble 
herself  about  my  affairs.     But  it's  all  right  now;  I 
do  not  intend  to  cease  to  act  the  part  of  a  gentle 
man.      I  hope  you  will  continue  your  visits  to  my 
hospital.     Come  whenever  it  suits  your  convenience 
best,  and  bring  in  for  the  boys  any  thing  you  see 
fit.     You  need  never  trouble  yourself  to  ask  me ;  I 
will  trust  to  your  judgment."     Of  course  I  couldn't 
help  forgiving  the  doctor ;  but,  after  all,  I  can't  see 
why  I  should  be  entitled  to  more  consideration,  or 
my  judgment  considered  superior  to  what  it  would 
have  been  had  I  been  a  nurse  in  some  particular  hos 
pital.     How  much  better  it  would  be  to  treat  every 
one  with  true   politeness,  which  costs  nothing,  and 
thereby  save  ourselves  much  deep  mortification. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  65 


December 

This  morning  I  went  to  Camp  Convalescent  with 
an  ambulance  filled  with  quilts,  flannel  shirts,  socks, 
towels,  handkerchiefs,  sixteen  pies  —  which  I  made 
last  evening  —  and  two  large  pails  of  stewed  fruit, 
which  I  distributed  among  our  needy  soldiers.  I 
found  three  quite  sick,  for  one  of  whom  I  procured 
admittance  to  the  "  Examining  Board  "  for  discharge, 
and  took  the  other  two  to  Fairfax  Street  Hospital, 
in  Alexandria.  Came  home,  wrote  two  letters,  and 
then  went  with  some  delicacies  to  St.  Paul's. 

Poor  Clark  —  the  young  man  previously  referred 
to  as  being  so  seriously  wounded  in  the  body  —  was, 
to  all  human  appearance,  dying.  His  grief-stricken 
mother  is  with  him.  I  remained  two  or  three  hours  : 
he  still  lingered.  As  it  was  getting  late,  and  being 
very  tired,  I  came  home,  when  Mrs.  May  went  over 
and  stayed  until  a  late  hour  with  them. 

December  1.2th. 

Cold  and  windy.  This  morning  went  again  to  St. 
Paul's.  To  my  surprise  I  found  young  Clark  still 
living,  but  another  poor  sufferer  had  passed  away 
before  him  ;  he  had  just  breathed  his  last.  His 
mother,  who  was  with  him  when  he  died,  was  then 
making  preparations  to  take  the  body  of  the  poor  boy 
to  her  home.  As  I  could  render  no  assistance,  I  left 


66  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

these  scenes  of  mourning  and  grief,  and  went  to  other 
hospitals.  In  visiting .  five,  I  found  a  large  number 
whose  names  were  added  to  my  list.  This  cold  wea 
ther  is  causing  much  sickness.  Another  of  our  boys 
—Henry  Tenyck,  of  the  5th,  for  whom  I  have  felt 
a  deep  solicitude— is  no  more.  In  one  of  the  hospi 
tals  I  saw  a  man  who  had  been  accidentally  shot 
through  the  lungs,  for  whose  recovery,  his  physician 
says,  "  there  is  no  hope."  Sad  sights  are  an  every 
day  experience.  Death  is  at  work,  as  the  lone  am 
bulance  on  its  way  to  the  "silent  city"  too  plainly 
tells.  Soon  after  returning  home  from  a  tour  through 
the  hospitals,  a  gentleman  called,  who  was  in  search 
of  a  sick  son,  and  wanted  to  know  if  I  could  give 
him  any  information  in  regard  to  him.  As  soon  as 
the  name— Frank  Kowley— was  mentioned,  I  recog 
nized  it  as  the  name  of  one  of  the  boys  whom  I  had 
"  stolen"  a  few  days  before  from  old  "  Camp  Misery," 
and,  donning  my  hat  and  shawl,  I  accompanied  the 
anxious  father  to  the  hospital  where  his  son  was. 
That  joyful  meeting  of  father  and  son  I  shall  never 
forget.  As  the  young  man  caught  a  glimpse  of  his 
father  on  his  entering  the  room,  he  sprang  up  in  bed, 
and,  with  extended  arms,  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  my  father ! 
my  father!"  while  the  tears  chased  each  other  in 
quick  succession  down  his  pale  cheeks.  In  a  moment 
they  were  clasped  in  each  other's  arms,  and  both 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  67 

weeping  for  joy.  I  left  them  to  enjoy  their  visit 
without  interruption.  The  evening  has  been  devoted 
to  letter-writing  for  soldiers. 

December  ~L5th. 

A  terrible  battle  has  been  raging  all  day  at  Fred- 
ericksburg,  but  no  particulars  have  been  received. 
We  can  only  hope  and  pray  that  the  God  of  battles 
may  speed  the  right. 

Have  visited  four  hospitals :  took  clothing,  wine, 
and  fruit.  I  first  went  to  Prince  Street  Hospital,  with 
some  clothes  for  Monroe,  of  the  Sixteenth,  another  of 
our  noble,  patient  boys,  who  is  as  brave  under  suffer 
ings  as  amid  the  dangers  of  battle.  For  months  he 
has  lain  upon  his  narrow  cot,  much  of.  the  time  suffer 
ing  intensely  from  a  severe  wound  in  the  thighs,  yet 
never  uttering  a  word  of  complaint.  We  hope  the 
crisis  is  passed,  as  he  seems  to  be  convalescing, 
though  yet  very  low. 

My  next  visit  was  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  with  a  bottle  of  wine  for  one  very  sick 
with  pneumonia,  who  has  failed  very  rapidly  during 
the  past  few  days.  From  here  I  went  to  the  McVey 
House,  a  hospital  recently  established  as  a  branch 
of  Camp  Convalescent.  While  there,  two  more  brave 
soldiers  closed  their  eyes  in  death — one  from  Michi 
gan,  and  the  other  from  Maine.  They  came  from  far- 


68  THE    BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

distant  homes,  but  died  together.  In  the  same  hos 
pital,  with  their  cots  only  a  few  feet  apart,  they  laid 
their  lives  a  sacrifice  upon  their  country's  altar  at 
the  same  time. 

Dr.  Holmes,  of  Lansing,  is  here  to  take  the  body 
of  young  Morehouse  home  to  his  weeping  relatives 
and  friends ;  while  the  Maine  soldier  will  soon  sleep 
with  his  comrades  in  yonder  cemetery. 

"  Farewell !     A  little  time,  and  we, 
Who  knew  thee  well,  and  loved  thee  here, 
One  after  another,  shall  follow  thee 
As  pilgrims  through  the  gate  of  Fear, 
Which  opens  on  Eternity." 

My  last  visit  was  at  Washington  Hall,  where  I 
found  several  new  arrivals,  some  of  whom  are  very 
sick.  Oh,  how  much  there  is  to  be  done !  The  en 
tire  evening  has  been  devoted  to  making  pies  and 
stewing  fruit,  to  take  to  the  hospitals  to-morrow, 
though  I  have  felt  more  like  folding  my  hands  and 
weeping  over  the  sad  experiences  of  the  day. 

December  16th. 

After  visiting  Fairfax  Hospital,  I  went  again  to 
Camp  Convalescent  with  pies,  stewed  fruit,  and  under 
clothing.  Mrs.  May  and  Mrs.  Bonine  accompanied 
me,  and  assisted  in  giving  out  my  supplies  to  those 
who  seemed  most  in  need,  though  that  was  rather  a 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  69 

hard  matter  to  decide.  We  succeeded  in  getting  four, 
who  were  wholly  unfit  for  service,  admitted  to  the 
"Examining  Board"  for  discharge,  and  two  others 
who  were  very  sick  were  brought  by  us  to  Alexan 
dria,  and  admitted  into  Fairfax  Street  Hospital.  Cou 
sin  George  Jennings,  whom  I  found  here  about  the 
middle  of  last  month,  is  still  at  the  old  camp ;  having 
taken  "  French  leave,"  he  is  now  with  us,  and  will  re 
main  until  to-morrow.  He  is  still  quite  lame  from  the 
effects  of  a  wound  received  on  the  15th  of  last  April, 
at  the  battle  of  Wilmington  Island,  and  there  is  no 
prospect  of  his  ever  being  fit  for  duty  again;  yet  he  is 
kept,  like  multitudes  of  others,  who  ought  to  be  dis 
charged  and  sent  home  to  their  friends.  What  a  com 
fort  to  himself  and  family,  could  he  have  been  with 
them  when  his  only  son,  a  dear  little  boy  of  fifteen 
months,  was  buried  a  few  weeks  ago.  But  no,  he 
must  follow  the  intricate  windings  of  "  red  tape  "  a 
little  longer. 

•X-***-**-** 

Though  the  wounded  from  Fredericksburg  are  daily 
expected,  as  yet  none  have  arrived.  Burnside's  army 
has  been  forced  to  fall  back  and  recross  the  Eappa- 
hannock.  Our  loss  is  estimated  at  ten  thousand — 
another  great  slaughter  and  nothing  gained.  Oh ! 
when  will  these  scenes  of  carnage  cease  ?  Echo  an 
swers,  "when  I" 


70  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

December 

Have  be*en  busy  this  forenoon  cooking  and  unpack 
ing  the  goods  which  I  brought  yesterday  from  our 
storerooms  in  Washington.  This  afternoon  cousiii 
Jennings'  "leave"  having  expired,  I  ordered  an  ambu 
lance  and  took  him  back  to  camp — taking  my  sauce 
and  pies  along  of  course — and  brought  back  three  sick 
men  to  McYey  Hospital.  I  had  some  trouble  in  get 
ting  them  admitted,  as  there  was  a  new  surgeon  in 
charge  of  the  camp,  whose  office  was  in  this  building, 
and  none  hereafter  were  to  be  removed  without  his 
permission.  It  was  now  dark,  and  the  nurses  dare 
not  admit  them  without  the  doctor's  knowledge.  Dr. 
Curtis  was  a  stranger  to  me,  and,  not  knowing  what 
kind  of  a  reception  I  might  meet  with,  I  hesitated  a 
moment,  quite  undecided  what  course  to  pursue ;  but, 
finding  there  was  no  way  but  to  go  and  see  him,  I  ran 
up-stairs  to  his  office  and  related  what  I  had  done. 
"Well,"  said  the  doctor  good-naturedly,  "  you  mustn't 
do  so  any  more,  but  come  to  me  and  I  will  give  you 
permission  at  any  time  to  remove  as  many  as  you 
wish.  I  am  trying  to  get  matters  systematized,  so 
that  I  shall  know  just  how  many  men  I  have  in  camp. 
I  only  want  to  know  who  are  removed,  when  and 
where ;  you  may  tell  the  ward-master  to  admit  those 
you  have  with  you,  and  I  will  see  that  they  are  not 
reported  without  leave."  I  left  his  office  with  a 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  71 

lighter  heart  than  I  had  entered  it,  hastened  down 
stairs,  did  my  errand,  and  returned  home,  where,  to 
my  great  surprise,  I  found  the  Eev.  Dr.  J.  A.  B. 
Stone,  President  of  Kalamazoo  College.  He  has  been 
to  Fredericksburg  to  look  after  his  son,  and  obtained 
for  him  a  leave  of  absence.  How  many  a  father  has 
visited  that  gory  field  in  search  of  sons,  and  found 
them,  if  found  at  all,  torn  and  mangled  and  bleeding, 
or,  it  may  be,  already  cold  in  death. 

This  evening  I  have  been  reminded  of  other  days — 
those  years  so  pleasantly  and  profitably  spent  at  Kala- 
rnazoo,  which  I  shall  always  look  upon  as  an  era  in 
the  history  of  my  life ;  but  other  scenes  far  different 
now  occupy  my  time.  I  am  pursuing  a  course  of 
study  altogether  different,  but  perhaps  not  less  in 
structive.  Eeceived  a  letter  from  John  R.  Stone  of 
Ionia,  containing  a  draft  for  forty  dollars,  cheerfully 
contributed  by  friends  and  acquaintances  in  response 
to  an  appeal  made  them  to  defray  for  a  time  my  per 
sonal  expenses  on  account  of  the  state  of  the  finances 
of  our  association.  I  thank  those  dear  friends  in  be 
half  of  the  soldiers,  for  it  is  in  reality  a  gift  to  them. 

December  23d. 

I  spent  the  day  in  cooking  at  McYey  Hospital. 
All  were  so  kind — doctor,  steward  and  nurses — and 
the  patients  so  grateful,  that  my  \vork  was  a  real 


72  THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

pleasure.  This  hospital  is  not  as  comfortably  sup 
plied  as  most  hospitals  in  the  city ;  I  have  furnished  it 
with  a  number  of  sheets,  pillows,  and  towels,  besides 
what  I  have  given  to  individual  cases.  Daring  the 
past  few  days  hundreds  of  wounded  have  arrived 
from  Fredericksburg,  among  whom  I  have  found  a 
large  number  of  Michigan  soldiers — fourteen  in  one 
hospital.  Doctor  Stone  accompanied  me  one  day  in 
my  hospital  visits,  as  he  wished  to  learn  something  of 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  conducted.  Before 
leaving  for  Michigan  he  added  ten  dollars  to  the 
amount  I  had  received  from  home  the  day  of  his 
arrival.  The  doctor  carries  home  with  him  my  heart's 
best  thanks. 

December  %5th. 

Another  "merry  Christmas ! "  "  Merry,7'  did  I  say? 
Sad  and  sorrowful  would  perhaps  be  more  appro 
priate.  To  me  it  has  been  a  day  both  of  joy  and 
sorrow.  I  spent  most  of  it  in  Grace  Church  Hospital, 
having  been  previously  invited  to  assist  about  a  din 
ner  to  which  the  inmates  have  done  ample  justice. 
In  all  the  hospitals,  as  far  as  I  have  yet  learned,  they 
have  had  a  nice  Christmas  dinner.  This  is  indeed  a 
source  of  pleasure.  But  the  thought  that  within  the 
past  few  days  many  a  home  circle  has  been  broken, 
many  a  hearth  made  desolate,  and  thousands  of  hearts 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  73 

wrung  with  anguish,  is  cause  enough  for  sadness. 
Add  to  this  the  vast  amount  of  suffering  at  present 
endured ;  list  to  the  mournful  music  daily  heard ; 
behold  the  lone  ambulance  slowly  moving  on  to 
yonder  cemetery;  count  there  the  newly-made  graves; 
think  of  the  dark  future  into  which  we  are  plunging, 
and  it  seems  there  would  be  no  place  left  for  joy. 
But  it  is  not  always  best  to  look  on  the  dark  side  of 
any  picture ;  this  gloomy  cloud  which  at  present 
hangs  over  our  country  may,  after  all,  have  a  "  silver 
lining."  All  will  yet  be  over-ruled  for  good;  the 
Almighty  has,  I  believe,  a  hand  in  this  war,  and  he  ' 
hath  his  own  ends  to  accomplish. 

"  His  purposes  will  ripen  fast, 

Unfolding  every  hour ; 
The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower." 

December  31st. 

Busy  as  usual  in  going  to  the  hospitals  with  divers 
articles.  There  is  great  excitement  in  town  from  the 
various  rumors  afloat — the  rebels  being  reported  "in 
considerable  force  at  Mount  Yernon."  Our  com 
missary  stores  are  in  readiness  to  be  removed  at  a 
moment's  notice. 

"With  this  day  closes  the  year  1862.  Oh,  what 
memories  cluster  around  the  past!  Terrible  battles 


74  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

have  been  fought,  precious  blood  has  been  shed,  noble 
lives  sacrificed,  widows  and  orphans  multiplied. 
"  The  stars  of  night  have  wept  o'er  scenes  of  carnage/' 
the  earth  has  been  drenched  with  the  blood  of  her 
heroes,  while  the  slain  are  in  our  midst.  The  sound 
of  the  war-drum  is  still  heard  calling  the  brave  to 
the  conflict.  The  lamp  of  sacrifice  has  not  jet 
been  extinguished,  but  burns  brightly  on  every  loyal 
hearth. 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  75 


CHAPTER  VI. 


MRS.  MAY  GOES  TO  THE  FRONT — THE  NEW  HOME — IONIA  FRIENDS 
— THE  TWENTY-SIXTH  MICHIGAN  INFANTRY — SOLDIER  AC 
CIDENTALLY  SHOT — A  NEW  YORK  SOLDIER— SICKNESS  IN 
CAMP — PHILIP  HACKER — SORROW  OF  FRIENDS — DEATH  OF 
LIEUTENANT  BURCH — FALMOUTH — RAILROAD  ACCIDENT — 
ANOTHER  SAD  SIGHT — A  MEETING  AT  THE  CAPITOL — A 
DAY  IN  WASHINGTON — THE  MOVE — SAD  MEMORIES. 

MY  work  for  the  month  of  January  was  so  similar 
to  that  of  previous  months,  that  to  give  daily  extracts 
from  my  journal  would  only  be  a  repetition  of  the 
same  oldstory. 

Early  in  the  month,  my  good  friend,  Mrs.  May, 
with  whom  I  had  boarded  three  months,  went  to  the 
front,  taking  her  family  with  her,  which  compelled 
me  to  seek  a  home  elsewhere.  But  the  furniture  *  not 
being  removed,  I  remained  at  the  same  place  until  the 
20th — Mrs.  Windsor,  of  New  York,  remaining  with 
me— when  the  furniture  was  sold  at  public  auction. 
I  then  went  to  live  with  Mrs.  Munsell,  at  No.  32 
Patrick  street,  the  lady  I  have  before  mentioned  as 

*  Which  was  confiscated  property. 


76  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

accompanying  the  wounded  from  the  battle-field  of 
Chantilly  to  Alexandria.  I  found  in  her  a  true 
friend.  But,  ere  the  return  of  peace,  she  entered  into 
her  rest,  her  life  having  been  worn  out  in  the  loyal 
cause.  Her  grave  may  be  seen  at  a  little  Quaker 
settlement  near  Sulphur  Springs,  Maryland,  whither 
she  had  gone  to  repair  her  wasted  energies  and  declin 
ing  health. 

What  fitting  tribute  shall  we  bring 
Thy  memory  to  enshrine  ?  .  • 

Fresh  laurel-wreaths  in  early  spring 
For  thee  will  love  entwineu 

Though  missing  my  friends  very  much,  and  seeing 
some  lonely  hours,  the  old  saying  that  "  there  is  no 
great  loss  without  some  small  gain,"  was  verified  in 
this  case,  as  Mrs.  Munsell  very  kindly  shared  with 
me  the  rations  drawn  from  the  Government,  thus  les 
sening  my  expenses. 

I  had  scarcely  become  settled  in  my  new  home 
when,  unexpectedly,  I  received  a  call  from  some  Ionia 
friends.  The  surprise  was  as  pleasant  as  complete. 
Before  leaving,  one  of  the  party  placed  a  sum  of 
money  in  my  hands,  saying,  "  That  is  for  your  own 
individual  self ;"  but  it  went  into  the  general  fund  to 
help  defray  expenses,  "  self"  being  an  after-considera 
tion. 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  77 

I  employed  my  time  as  usual — evenings,  in  making 
pies,  puddings,  custards,  stewing  fruit,  writing  letters, 
making  shirts,  knitting  socks,  etc.,  and  during  the 
day  distributing  my  supplies  among  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  various  hospitals.  I  also  continued 
visits  to  the  camps,  procuring  discharges  and  bringing 
away  the  sick.  The  weather,  much  of  the  time,  was 
cold  and  unpleasant,  wind  and  rain,  snow  and  mud, 
seeming  to  be  the  order  of  the  day. 

During  this  month,  Camp  Convalescent  was  remov 
ed  two  miles  farther  away — near  Fort  Blenker — where 
wood  and  water  were  plenty;  and  the  erection  of 
barracks  commenced,  some  of  which  were  completed 
and  occupied  before  the  close  of  the  month.  On  the 
whole,  a  great  change  for  the  better  took  place,  but 
there  was  still  plenty  of  room  for  improvement.  A 
noble  work  was  accomplished  among  those  destitute 
neglected  ones  by  Miss  Bradley  of  Maine — a  sanitary 
agent,  having  her  headquarters  in  this  Camp.  Many 
a  soldier  can  point  to  her  as  the  means,  under  God, 
of  saving  his  life. 

A  short  time  before  the  Camp  was  removed,  we 
had  a  few  days  of  severe  cold  weather.  The  sick 
were  brought  into  Alexandria,  several  of  them  so 
nearly  frozen  that  they  never  spoke  afterwards.  I 
saw  two  such  who  were  taken  to  St.  Paul's;  they 
survived  only  a  few  hours,  and  died  without  returning 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

to  consciousness.  Upon  whom  does  the  responsibility 
rest?  There  was  blame  attached  to  some  one — a  fear 
ful  neglect  of  duty  somewhere. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Michigan  Infantry  were  at  this 
time  stationed  near  Alexandria,  and  doing  provost 
duty  in  the  city.  As  they  had  not  been  long  enough 
in  the  service  to  become  acclimated,  they  suffered 
much  from  sickness.  Pneumonia,  measles,  typhoid 
fever  and  small-pox  altogether  did  fearful  work  in  the 
regiment.  I  supplied  them  from  time  to  time  with 
butter,  fruit,  jellies,  wine,  eggs,  chicken,  etc.,  besides 
pillows,  towels,  handkerchiefs,  flannel  (when  needed 
and  to  be  had),  stationery,  and  the  like. 

As  the  regimental  hospital  would  not  accommodate 
all  the  sick,  many  were  taken  to  Alexandria.  At  one 
time  I  had  on  my  list  eighty  names  of  men  belonging 
to  this  regiment,  in  one  hospital.  At  that  time  I  had 
few  acquaintances  in  the  regiment,  except  among  the 
sick,  and  "  their  name  was  legion." 

I  remember  the  first  time  we  heard  the  tramp  of 
the  soldiers  of  the  Twenty-sixth.  As  they  were  pass 
ing  our  door,  some  one  of  the  family  remarked,  "  We 
are  safe  now,  for  Michigan's  on  duty."  Poor  boys! 
some  of  them  never  knew  what  it  was  to  perform  a 
soldier's  duty,  for  they  died  before  having  an  oppor 
tunity  to  strike  one  blow  in  defence  of  liberty— sacri 
fices,  nevertheless,  to  the  cause.  One  of  their  number, 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  79 

Ira  Nash,  was  accidentally  shot  by  a  comrade  the  6th 
inst,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  the  25th. 
During  those  weeks  of  suffering,  he  was  a  perfect  em 
bodiment  of  patience.  He  entertained  no  feelings  of 
resentment  toward  his  unfortunate  comrade  who  was 
the  cause  of  his  untimely  death,  but  freely  forgave. 
His  brother  came  on  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  acci 
dent,  remained  with  him  until  he  died,  and  then  re 
turned  home  with  his  remains  to  the  young  wife  so 
soon  left  a  widow,  and  the  many  friends  who  mourn 
their  loss. 

Several  of  the  Fifth  Infantry  wounded  at  Freder- 
icksburg  died  during  this,  the  first  month  of  the  year 
— three  in  one  hospital,  all  belonging  to  the  same 
company.  The  sister  of  one  of  these — Albert  Foot — 
came  to  see  him,  and  with  sisterly  devotion  watched 
over  him  until  failing  health  compelled  her  to  return 
home.  Others  of  the  same,  and  other  regiments,  died 
in  different  hospitals,  whose  names  space  forbids  men 
tioning.  Oh,  how  often  I  thought  of  the  friends  in 
far-off  homes  when  the  lives  of  their  loved  ones  were 
ebbing  away.  What  would  that  fond  mother  have 
given  to  have  taken  the  place  of  the  stranger  by  the 
side  of  her  dying  boy;  or  that  devoted  wife,  could 
she  have  wiped  the  clammy  death-sweat  from  the  brow 
of  her  departing  husband ;  or  that  loving  sister  to 
have  spoken  words  of  comfort  to  cheer  her  soldier- 


80  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

brother  through  the  "dark  valley;"  or  the  affianced 
to  have  performed  the  last  kind  office  of  affection  for 
the  one  "dearer  than  all  others"?  .  .  \  •  . 

The  month  of  February  witnessed  a  great  decrease 
in  the  number  of  patients  in  our  hospitals,  some  hav 
ing  been  discharged,  others  returned  to  duty,  a  few 
were  transferred,  while  death  removed  its  multitudes. 

The  Twenty-sixth  lost  many  a  noble  man  from  its 
ranks — something  like  eighteen  or  twenty.  Among 
others  who  closed  their  earthly  existence  during  this 
month  was  Corporal  Philip  Hacker  of  the  Fifth,  a 
noble  Christian  young  man,  who  had  chosen  the  min 
istry  as  his  profession.  He  was  wounded  in  the  hip, 
the  ball  never  being  extracted.  He  lingered  an  in 
tense  sufferer  six  weeks.  I  watched  over  him  with  a 
sister's  solicitude ;  saw  him  day  by  day  grow  weaker, 
his  cheeks  thinner  and  paler,  until  the  sands  of  life 
ran  out,  and  "he  was  not,  for  God  took  him."  His 
poor  sorrowing  mother,  who  was  on  her  way  to  see 
him,  had  already  reached  Washington  But,  alas! 
hers  was  the  consolation  that  the  grave  affords.  It 
was  hard  for  me  to  give  him  up,  but  who  could 
fathom  the  depths  of  that  mother's  grief?  But  her 
cup  was  not  yet  full.  After  remaining  with  me  a  few 
days,  she  went  to  see  another  son,  who  belonged  to 
the  Second  Infantry,  then  stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
This  proved  to  be  their  last  meeting ;  at  the  siege  of 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  81 

Knoxville  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  a  Minie  ball 
having  penetrated  his  brain.  They  left  him  buried 
where  he  fell  asleep,  in  Tennessee. 

"  0  woman  ! — noble,  suffering  heart — 

Hope  for  a  fairer  dawn; 
The  hand  that  dealt  the  trial 
Will  give  a  bright'ning  morn." 

It  is  the  hope  of  this  "bright'ning  morn,"  the  re 
union  in  heaven,  that  makes  this  bereaved  mother's 
grief  endurable.  It  was  sad  indeed  to  witness  the 
sorrow  of  friends  who  had  come  to  look  up  their 
dear  ones-,  and  found  them  very  often,  alas !  already 
dead  or  dying.  I  can  see  before  me,  even  now,  a 
pale-faced  sister  watching  by  the  bedside  of  a  dear 
brother;  but  soon  he  passes  away.  Again,  I  see  an 
aged  father,  bowed  with  the  weight  of  years,  whose 
locks  are  white  with  the  frosts  of  many  winters, 
watching  day  and  night  by  his  darling  boy;  but, 
after  long  weeks  of  suffering,  the  stern  messenger 
comes,  and  none  can  stay  his  hand.  There,  too, 
comes  the  heart-broken  widow,  weeping  bitter  tears 
o'er  her  early  slain,  while  her  children  look  in  vain 
for  father's  coming.  Brothers,  too,  I  see  searching 
for  brothers,  and  friend  inquiring  for  friend. 
*  *  #  *  #  # 

Among  the  many  who  died  with  that  loathsome 
disease,  small-pox,  which  prevailed  to  quite  an  alarm- 


82  THJS   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

ing  extent,  was  the  young  and  gifted  Lieutenant  W. 
W.  Burch,  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Michigan. 

The  following  lines  were  written  upon  his  death 
by  Sarah  J.  C.  Whittlesey,  of  Alexandria,  Ya.  As 
they  seem  so  appropriate,  I  will  reproduce  them: 

"  Toll,  toll  for  him,  the  youthful  one,  O  funeral  bell  of  time! 
He  died  with  manhood's  morning  sun  just  risen  at  matin  chime. 
Toll,  toll  for  him,  the  youthful  one,  O  solemn  bell !    O  funeral 
bell! 

Cathedral  bell  of  time ! 

"  Mourn,  mourn  for  him,  the  youthful  one,  O  heart  of  life  and 

bloom ! 

Death  dimmed  the  splendor  of  thy  sun,  O  earth !  within  his  tomb. 
Mourn,  mourn  for  him,  the  gifted  one,  O  kindred  heart,  O  poet 
heart ! 

O  heart  of  life  and  bloom ! 

"  Moan,  moan  around  the  soldier's  bed,  O  waves  of  the  year's 

spring-tide ! 

Chant  dirges  o'er  his  buried  head — in  life's  young  spring  he  died. 
Moan,  moan  around  the  soldier's  bed,   O  solemn  waves  !    O 
sobbing  waves ! 

O  waves  of  the  year's  spring-tide ! 

"  Weep,  weep  beside  the  stranger's  rest,  O  heart  of  woman  fair ! 
Far  from  a  mother's  faithful  breast  he  died,  and  slumbers  there. 
Weep,  weep  beside  the  stranger's  rest,  O  mother  heart!    O 
maiden  heart ! 

O  heart  of  woman  fair ! 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  83 

"Rest,  rest  within  our  Southern  land,  young  soldier,  good  and 

brave  ; 

A  white-rose  wreath  the  stranger's  hand  will  lay  upon  thy  grave, 
For  those  who  weep  in  far  North-land  —  thy  childhood's  home  — 
a  stricken  band, 

Who  mourn  the  lost  and  brave. 


The  9th  of  the  month  I  went  to  Falmouth,  with 
nearly  four  thousand  pounds  of  hospital  stores,  which 
had  been  brought  from  Monroe,  Mich.,  by  Mr.  Mar 
vin,  designed  expressly  for  those  in  the  field.  I  was 
accompanied  by  Mrs.  Munsell  and  Mrs.  Beck  with  — 
the  latter  a  Massachusetts  lady,  whose  husband  was 
killed  a  few  months  before  —  who  were  also  taking 
supplies  to  the  army.  We  arrived  at  Aquia  Creek 
in  time  for  the  three  o'clock  train,  and  at  four  were 
at  Falmouth  Station,  where  I  had  some  trouble  in 
getting  my  goods  together,  but  finally  succeeded,  and 
then  stationed  myself  as  guard  over  them,  remaining 
on  duty  until  I  could  send  a  distance  of  three  miles 
for  transportation.  Here  Mrs.  Munsell  left  me,  as 
she  was  going  to  a  different  part  of  the  army.  It 
was  about  eight  o'clock  when  Chaplain  May  jumped 
upon  the  platform  near  where  I  was  standing.  No 
lone  sentinel  at  his  post  was  ever  more  rejoiced  to 
hear  the  approaching  footsteps  of  the  "second  relief" 
than  was  I  to  see  the  chaplain  that  evening.  He 
brought  an  ambulance  and  large  army-wagon,  which 


84  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

were  soon  loaded,  a  guard  placed  over  the  remainder 
of  my  stores,  and  we  on  our  way,  through  darkness 
and  mud,  to  the  camp  of  the  Second  Michigan,  it 
being  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  we  arrived.  I  was 
delighted  once  more  to  meet  my  good  friends,  the 
chaplain's  family  and  Mrs.  Bonine ;  and  after  partak 
ing  of  a  warm  supper,  which  was  in  readiness,  we 
visited,  until  reminded  by  the  small  hours  of  the 
night  that  it  was  time  to  retire.  Presently  we  find 
ourselves  stowed  away  for  the  night,  six  of  us  in  a 
little  cabin,  perhaps  eighteen  feet  by  twenty,  and  are 
soon  lost  in  the  land  of  pleasant  dreams. 

The  next  day  was  warm  and  agreeable.  I  assisted 
in  distributing  some  of  the  supplies  which  I  had 
taken  down.  Nothing  was  eaten  with  a  better  relish 
than  the  pickles  and  sour-kraut.  There  seemed  to 
be  a  hankering  for  acids,  the  absence  of  which  was 
the  cause  of  much  sickness. 

I  made  a  short  visit  to  the  Lacy  House,  took  a 
stroll  along  the  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  across 
which  lies  the  once  pleasant  little  town  of  Freder- 
icksburg,  but  now  battered  and  broken ;  beyond,  the 
long  lines  of  rebel  fortifications  could  be  seen,  from 
before  which  Burnside  was  compelled  to  fall  back 
only  two  months  previous.  Our  troops  and  the  rebels 
were  picketing  on  opposite  sides  of  the  river,  in  speak 
ing  distance  of  each  other. 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  85 

The  morning  of  the  llth  I  left  for  Alexandria,  in 
company  with  Mrs.  Bonine,  wife  of  Surgeon  Bonine, 
of  the  Second,  who  was  starting  for  Michigan.  This, 
my  first  trip  to  the  army  —  though  full  of  interest, 
and  associated  with  pleasant  memories — was  not  with 
out  sadness,  for  a  loved  one  was  missing  from  the 
decimated  ranks  of  the  Michigan  Eighth,  and  the 
grave  was  daily  closing  over  "somebody's  darling." 
And,  oh !  how  many  times  I  thought  of  the  poor 
woman  we  met,  when  on  our  way  to  Falmouth,  who 
was  going  to  look  after  the  remains  of  the  last  of 
three  sons  who  had  died  in  Freedom's  holy  cause. 
Sorrow  -  stricken,  heart-broken,  she  sat  with  bowed 
head,  only  speaking  when  addressed.  Her  grief  was 
too  great  for  expression.  When  "Grandma  Gage," 
from  a  heart  overflowing  with  joy,  can  exclaim 

"  They're  coining  home !  they're  coming  home ! — 

Those  four  dear  boys  of  mine — 

They're  coming  home  from  out  the  war:  m 

How  bright  the  sun  does  shine!" 

she,  from  the  bitterness  of  her  soul,  takes  up  the 
sad  lamentation : 

"  They  have  fallen !  they  have  fallen  ! 
Where  the  battle-tempest  roared — 
Where  the  blaze  of  strife  was  gleaming 
On  each  bayonet  and  sword." 


80  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

As  the  Ninth  Corps  was  under  marching  orders,  I 
daily  looked  for  the  return  of  Mrs.  May  and  family, 
but  saw  nothing  of  them  until  the  25th,  when  I  again 
took  up  my  abode  with  them, 

On  the  19th  of  March,  a  sad  accident  occurred 
near  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Depot.  The  cars 
were  thrown  from  the  track,  killing  four  soldiers  in 
stantly,  and  severely  wounding  several  others,  two 
of  whom  died  before  night,  and  one  the  next  day, 
while  others  lingered  a  few  days,  suffering  more  than 
death,  before  it  came  for  their  relief.  As  soon  as  I 
heard  of  the  accident,  I  hastened,  with  others,  to  the 
place,  taking  wine,  lint,  and  bandages.  Oh,  shock 
ing  sight !  There,  in  an  open  car,  lay  the  mangled 
forms  of  the  dead  and  wounded.  As  soon  as  possible, 
the  wounded  were  removed  to  the  nearest  hospital 
and  kindly  cared  for,  but  the  greater  part  needed 
care  only  a  short  time. 

A  few  days  after  this,  I  witnessed  another  distress 
ing  sight  at  Fairfax  Seminary.  A  soldier  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Michigan  was  dying  from  bleeding  at 
the  nose,  which  had  continued  for  several  days. 
Every  effort  to  check  the  flow  of  blood  proved  un 
availing.  It  was  pitiful  to  behold  him.  His  face 
was  of  marble  whiteness,  while  the  red  current  issu 
ing  from  both  nostrils  plainly  indicated  that  the 
fountain  of  life  would  soon  be  dry,  and  so  it  was. 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  87 

The  brother  who  had  come  to  care  for  him  returned 
with  the  lifeless  form  to  a  bereaved  wife  and  three 
fatherless  children. 

Toward  the  last  of  the  month,  I  received  another 
box  of  goods  from  Ionia,  and  two  from  Jackson.  In 
one  of  the  latter  was  some  clothing  for  myself;  so  I, 
as  well  as  the  soldiers,  had  reason  for  gratitude, 
which,  I  believe,  on  the  part  of  neither  was  wanting. 

The  evening  of  the  31st,  I  attended  a  meeting  at 
the  Capitol.  Admiral  Foot — blessings  on  his  mem 
ory — and  "  Andrew  Johnson  "  were  among  the  speak 
ers.  The  address  of  each  was  characteristic  of  the 
man  who  delivered  it.  Admiral  Foot,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  recognized  the  hand  of  God  in  the 
war,  and  recommended  the  people  to  exercise  more 
faith  in  his  over-ruling  providence,  firmly  believing 
that  all  would  eventually  work  out,  not  only  for 
God's  glory,  but  for  the  best  interest  of  our  country. 
Mr.  Johnson  spoke  at  length  of  the  state  of  affairs  in 
Tennessee,  and  of  the  nation  generally.  He  believed 
in  meting  out  to  traitors  their  just  deserts — that  stern 
justice,  without  any  sprinkling  of  mercy,  should  be 
the  portion  of  their  cup.  A  slight  change  in  his 
policy  since  then ! ! !  During  the  evening,  President 
Lincoln,  and  several  members  of  his  cabinet,  came  in. 
As  they  entered,  the  audience  rose  to  their  feet; 
ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  gentlemen  threw 


88  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

up  their  hats,  while  cheer  after  cheer  went  up  for  our 
chieftain,  which  echoed  and  reverberated  through  the 
halls  and  great  dome  of  the  Capitol.  Every  heart 
seemed  to  beat  in  unison  with  the  great  heart  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  whose  care-worn  face  too  plainly 
told  that  it  was  not  the  weight  of  years,  but  the  sor 
rows  of  a  nation,  which  were  bearing  him  down. 
None  could  look  upon  his  sad  countenance  without 
feelings  of  pity  and  a  willingness  to  share  the  respon 
sibility  which  rested  with  such  crushing  weight  upon 
his  shoulders ;  and  many  were  the  expressions  heard, 
like  the  following:  "  Poor  Father  Abraham  1 "  "God 
bless  him  ! "  "  Long  live  our  President ! " 

It  being  too  late  to  return  to  Alexandria  after 
the  close  of  the  exercises,  I  improved  the  opportu 
nity  next  day  of  visiting,  with  the  rest  of  our  party, 
some  of  the  places  of  interest  in  Washington.  We 
first  went  to  the  Navy  Yard,  where  to  me  everything 
was  new.  We  were  shown  through  the  different 
workshops  where  the  deadly  missiles  of  war,  from  the 
Minie-ball  to  the  huge  mortar-shells,  were  being  rap 
idly  manufactured  to  be  sent  upon  their  destructive 
mission.  Among  the  many  things  of  special  interest 
were  several  pieces  of  cannon  captured  during  the 
revolutionary  war.  We  paid  a  short  visit  to  the 
White  House,  but  reserved  the  larger  portion  of  our 
time  to  be  spent  at  the  Capitol.  This  magnificent 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  89 

building,  with  its  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  front, 
and  covering  an  area  of  three  and  a  half  acres,  is  a 
grand  spectacle.  I  care  not  for  the  mighty  cathedrals 
of  the  Old  World ;  here  is  beauty  and  sublimity  com 
bined—sublime  in  magnitude,  and  beautiful  in  its 
harmonious  proportions. 

Ascending  the  long  flight  of  marble  steps,  we  pause 
a  moment  in  the   eastern  portico  to  reflect  on  the 
scenes  which  have  there  been  enacted.     This  portico 
is,  in  the  language  of  one,  "  the  vestibule  to  the  great 
political  temple  of  the  Union,"  where  all  of  our  Presi 
dents — from  Jefferson  down  to  our  present  incumbent, 
"A.  J." — have,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  thou 
sands,  taken  the  oath  of  office  administered  by  the 
Chief-Justice  of  the  Supreme   Court   of  the  United 
States.     There  were  uttered  those  Christ-like  words : 
"With  malice  toward   none,   with   charity  to   all." 
We  pass  from  this  portico  into  the  rotunda,  and  spend 
a  little  time  in  admiring  the  elegant  paintings  which 
adorn  its  walls.     The  finest  of  these  are,  I  think,  the 
"  Embarkation  of  the  Pilgrims  "  and  the  "  Baptism  of 
Pocahontas ; "  but  the  most  exquisite  of  all  the  paint 
ings  in  the  Capitol  is  the   "Western  Scene,"  which 
would  require  weeks  of  study  to  be  fully  appreciated. 
The  Senate-Chamber  and  House  of  Eepresentatives 
are  places  of  deep  and  thrilling  interest.     There  were 
many  vacant  seats  once  occupied  by  men  who  had 


90  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

sworn  to  protect  the  Government  against  all  enemies, 
foreign  and  domestic,  but  who,  with  violated  oaths 
and  perjured  souls,  went  over  to  the  ranks  of 
treason.  But  neither  paintings,  nor  statuary,  nor  ele 
gant  rooms  attracted  my  attention  more  than  those 
massive  bronze  doors,  executed  by  Eogers,  in  Italy,  at 
great  expense  and  a  vast  amount  of  labor. 

The  20th  of  April,  the  Twenty-sixth  Michigan,  ac 
cording  to  orders,  left  Alexandria  for  the  Peninsula. 
How  much  we  missed  them  when  they  were  gone, 
how  sad  we  felt,  and  how  we  all  cried  when  the 
boat  shoved  out  from  shore  that  was  to  bear  them 
away  to  the  field  of  strife !  How  long  the  injunction, 
"Take  good  care  of  Willie,"  rang  in  my  ears  1  How 
lonely  that  old  building  looked  where  Company  "I" 
had  been  quartered!  How  deserted  the  old  camp 
ground  appeared,  how  anxiously  we  watched  for  any 
intelligence  from  the  Twenty-sixth,  and  how  frequent 
ly  letters  were  received,  ending  with  "  Pray  for  me," 
and  how  often  and  earnestly  we  did  pray  that  they 
might  all  be  kept  from  falling  in  the  fierce  conflict ; 
but,  if  fall  they  must,  that  they  might  be  made  meet 
for  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Their  sick  were  left  at  Alexandria.  I  had  some 
thing  over  a  hundred  names  of  my  list  belonging  to 
this  regiment.  A  large  number  were  very  ill,  and 
many  of  them  soon  went  to  their  long  home.  Oh, 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  91 

what  a  long  array  of  those  poor  sufferers  pass  before 
me  in  imagination  as  I  write!  There  is  one  deliri 
ous  with  fever ;  he  is  constantly  talking  of  home  and 
mother. 

"My  mother,  dear  mother,  with  weak,  tearful  eye, 
Farewell,  and  God  bless  you  forever  and  aye ; 
Oh!  that  I  now  lay  on  your  pillowing  breast, 
To  breathe  my  last  sigh  on  the  bosom  first  pressed." 

But  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  with  no  dear  mo 
ther  there,  he  passed  away.  Here  is  another,  a  young 
man  from  my  own  county,  over  whom  for  many 
weeks  I  had  anxiously  watched ;  his  aged  father  is 
sent  for ;  the  poor  boy  still  lingers  day  after  day  and 
week  after  week,  but  at  length  he  yields  up  his 
young  life  to  the  "King  of  Terrors,"  and  the  gray- 
headed  sire  is  bereft  of  the  staff  of  his  declining 
years.  Here  again  are  two,  lying  side  by  side  in 
the  same  hospital;  one  lingers  long  with  typhoid 
pneumonia,  the  other  is  an  intense  sufferer  with  rheu 
matic  fever,  who  goes  only  two  days  before  his  com 
rade.  In  the  same  ward  is  another — a  Massachusetts 
soldier — to  whom  it  was  my  privilege  frequently  to 
take  some  little  delicacy.  He  is  recovering  from  a 
long  run  of  fever ;  is  able  to  be  about  the  ward,  with 
a  fair  prospect  of  going  home  soon  on  furlough,  when 
he  is  suddenly  seized  with  that  disease  of  all  others 
the  most  dreaded — small-pox;  he  is  removed  to  the 


92  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

"Pest  House,"  and  we  see  him  no  more.  Here  is 
still  another,  wounded  in  the  head ;  he  has  become 
a  raving  maniac,  and  is  carried  off  to  the  Insane  Asy 
lum.  There  are  others,  many  others,  but  the  cata 
logue  would  be-  too  long  to  mention  them  all,  yet 
such  will  ever  be  held  in  sacred  remembrance. 

Oh !   sad  memories  of  the  past,  how  deeply  are  ye  stirred ! 
The  dying  soldier  haunts  me  still! 


Dying  'mong  strangers — dying  at  night, 

Far  from  his  home  and  his  kindred  so  dear, 

Far  from  the  loved  ones  he  left  for  the  fight, 

When  he  bade  them  farewell,  with  a  kiss  and  a  tear. 

Dying  with  fever — dying  at  morn, 

Just  as. the  sun  in  the  East  had  arisen; 
Leaving  his  widow  and  orphans  forlorn  ; 

But  "tell  them  I  died  with  my  trust  still  in  Heaven.' 

Dying  unconscious — dying  at  noon, 

Lo!  his  comrades  are  closing  his  eyes; 
The  work  of  the  soldier  forever  is  done, 

But  his  spirit  ascends  to  his  God  in  the  skies. 

Dying  at  evening — dying  alone, 

Far,  far  away  on  the  red  field  of  strife, 
With  no  kindred  near  he  leaves  his  last  moan, 

And  to  the  cause  of  his  country  yields  up  his  life. 

Though  dying  alone,  morn,  noon  or  night, 
What  matters  it  now  the  struggle  is  o'er? 

And  his  spirit  is  clothed  in  spotless  white, 

With  the  marshalling  hosts  on  the  heavenly  skore. 


THE  BOYS  IN    WHITE.  93 


CHAPTER   VII. 


BATTLE  OP  CHANCELLORSVILLE — FAIRFAX  COURT-HOUSE— VISIT 
TO  THE  FIRST  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY — BRIGADE  HOSPITAL — 
CHANTILLY — BULL  RUN — THE  BEREAVED  BROTHER— MRS. 
BLAIR — GOVERNOR  BLAIR'S  ADDRESS — RETURN  TO  ALEX 
ANDRIA — BACK  TO  FAIRFAX— STOUGHTON  HOUSE— EXCIT 
ING  RUMORS — MOVEMENT  OF  THE  ARMY — ALONE — NARROW 
ESCAPE — MAINE  LADY — AN  EVENTFUL  PERIOD. 

THE  month  of  May  was  much  more  eventful,  at 
least  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  than  any  since 
December.  Early  in  the  month  the  army  under 
General  Hooker  advanced  on  the  enemy,  and  Sunday, 
the  third,  commenced  the  disastrous  series  of  battles 
at  Chancellorsville.  All  had  the  utmost  confidence 
in  "  old  fighting  Joe."  But  after  a  protracted  struggle 
of  three  days,  he  was  compelled  to  fall  back  and  re- 
cross  the  Kappahannock.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was 
heavy.  Among  the  many  brave  men  who  there  fell 
was  the  gallant  Berry.  A  few  months  previous,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  this  noble  officer.  He, 
with  Surgeon  Bonine,  unexpectedly  made  his  appear 
ance  one  cold  morning  in  Alexandria,  having  travelled 
all  night  through  snow  and  mud  in  their  retreat  from 


94  THE    BOYS   IN    WHITE. 

Leesburg,  whither  they  had  arrived  on  their  way  to 
join  their  command,  which  was  encamped  somewhere 
near  Snicker's  Gap,  in  the  Blue  Eidge ;  but,  to  avoid 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels  who  had  cut  off 
their  advance,  they  were  compelled  to  make  this  hasty 
retreat.  They  were  weary  and  footsore,  but  early 
next  morning  were  on  their  way  again,  and,  by  taking 
a  different  route,  reached  their  command  in  safety.  A 
few  more  weary  marches  bring  him  down  to  Chancel- 
lorsville,  where  rebel  balls  fulfil  their  bloody  mission. 

The  rebels  also  lost  one  of  their  ablest  generals — 
the  "invincible  Stonewall."  What  greatly  added  to 
the  horrors  of  the  scene  was  the  burning  of  the  woods, 
in  which  many  of  the  wounded  are  supposed  to  have 
perished.  Comparatively  few  of  the  wounded  were 
brought  to  Alexandria,  and  none  for  several  days  ex 
cept  "  Johnnies." 

Having  been  laid  up  nearly  four  weeks  with  inflam 
matory  rheumatism  in  my  right  ankle,  I  was  com 
pelled  to  suspend  operations  until  about  the  middle 
of  the  month,  when,  upon  resuming  my  duties,  I  found 
a  few  of  my  old  patients  still  quite  sick,  and  some  new 
arrivals ;  but,  on  the  whole,  the  number  from  Michi 
gan,  as  well  as  from  other  States,  had  greatly  dimin 
ished  since  my  last  visit. 

The  20th  inst.  I  went  to  Fairfax  Court-House  in 
company  with  Mrs.  May  and  other  friends.  We  had 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  95 

a  brigade  hospital  at  this  place,  there  being  four  regi 
ments  of  Michigan  Cavalry  encamped  in  the  vicinity, 
three  of  which — viz.,  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Seventh — 
were  scarcely  six  months  from  home;  consequently 
these  were  suffering  much  from  fevers  and  dysentery. 

After  visiting  these  hospitals,  which  we  found  quite 
comfortable,  yet  lacking  many  things  which  the  sick 
greatly  needed,  we  found  quarters  for  the  night  with 
the  First  Cavalry,  where  we  were  cordially  welcomed 
and  comfortably  provided  for.  This  was  my  first 
night  in  camp — the  first  time  I  slept  in  a  tent — a 
novel  idea,  then. 

Next  morning  Colonel  Town  offered  us  an  ambu 
lance,  that  we  might  visit  Bull  Run  battle-field,  which 
we  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  do  before  returning 
to  Alexandria,  having  a  twofold  object  in  view  when 
leaving  home ;  one  being  to  see  the  field  which  had 
been  twice  fought  over  so  desperately,  and  every  foot 
of  ground  so  hotly  contested ;  the  other,  to  recover, 
if  possible,  the  body  of  Colonel  Roberts,  of  the  First 
Michigan  Infantry,  who  was  killed  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  Our  instructions  were  such,  from 
one  who  saw  him  buried,  that  we  felt  sure  we  could 
identify  his  grave.  At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  we  are  on 
our  way  with  an  escort  of  thirty  men  detailed  from  the 
regiment,  and  several  officers,  Lieutenant  Wheeler  m 
command.  As  Chantilly's  once  bloody  field  was  but 


96  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

little  out  of  our  way,  we  visited  that  first.  Oh !  what 
feelings  I  experienced  as  I  stood  and  looked  out  upon 
that  field,  where,  only  a  few  months  before,  was  mar 
shalled  for  deadly  combat  a  mighty  host  of  noble 
heroes !  Among  that  number  was  my  own  dear 
brother ;  upon  this  very  field  he  fell ;  here  for  days  he 
lay  beneath  the  scorching  rays  of  a  Southern  sun,  torn 
and  mangled,  bleeding,  dying — no  hope  of  ever  again 
seeing  home  or  wife  or  child.  Then  multiply  his 
case  by  thousands,  and  oh,  what  a  scene  was  here 
witnessed ! 

No  wonder  the  gentle  moon  veiled  her  face,  and  the 
astonished  heavens  clothed  themselves  with  blackness, 
and  the  Almighty  uttered  his  voice  in  thunder-tones, 
while  the  howling  of  the  elements  strangely  commin 
gled  with  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

Spread  out  before  us  was  that  vast  cornfield  of 
which  we  had  read  so  much,  where  such  desperate 
fighting  was  done,  and  where  so  many  hundreds  fell. 
The  tree  near  which  the  bold  and  fearless  Kearney 
fell,  was  pointed  out  to  us ;  it  was  pierced  with  many 
balls;  there  were  those  old  buildings,  battered  and 
broken,  to  which  many  of  the  wounded  were  taken, 
and  upon  whose  rude  floor  they  breathed  their  last. 
The  strip  of  wood  skirting  the  road  bore  marks  of  the 
terrible  conflict  which  raged  there — trees  pierced  with 
bullets,  their  branches  scattered  and  torn,  while  the 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  97 

earth  was  ploughed  with  exploding  shells.  From  many 
of  the  little  mounds  scattered  far  and  near,  human 
bones  were  seen  protruding,  and  sometimes  even  the 
skulls  were  bare,  so  slightly  were  they  covered.  We 
wandered  over  the  field,  picked  up  a  few  balls  and 
pebbles,  and  gathered  a  few  wild  flowers  as  sad 
mementoes  of  this  sad  place,  and  again  "  took  up  our 
line  of  march." 
,  Arriving  at  Centreville,  we  called  to  see  General 

Abbercrombie — the  commandant  of  the  post to  have 

our  passes  extended,  but,  to  our  great  disappointment, 
failed ;  it  being  contrary  to  orders  to  pass  so  small  a 
force  beyond  our  picket-line,  as  the  country  was  over 
run  with  guerrillas.  We  went  on  as  far  as  Black 
burn's  Ford,  passing  over  part  of  the  first  Bull  Bun 
battle-field,  the  very  place  where  our  own  Eichardson, 
with  his  band  of  noble  heroes,  so  bravely  fought. 
The  country  was  one  wide-spread  desolation.  At  the 
ford  we  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes  over  the  ruins  of 
the  old  bridge— which  was  burned  by  our  troops  in 
their  retreat  nine  months  before— sang  several  national 
songs,  gathered  a  few  relics,  and,  after  resting  our 
horses  and  partaking  of  a  cold  lunch,  returned  to 
Fairfax.  Next  morning  all  except  myself  returned  to 
Alexandria.  Never  shall  we  forget  our  visit  to  the 
First  Michigan  Cavalry.  The  friendly  cordiality  that 
was  manifest ;  the  camp  so  neat  and  clean  ;  the  dress 


98  THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

parade  and  cavalry  drill,  such  novelties  ;  the  presence 
of  ladies  spending  a  little  time  with  their  husbands  in 
camp,  the  hearty  greetings  of  former  friends,  all  com 
bined  to  make  our  stay  pleasant.  Alasl  how  many 
of  those  brave  boys,  with  their  noble,  kind-hearted 
colonel,  subsequently  fell  in  their  country's  service  I 
They  sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking. 

I  remained  at  Fairfax  until  the  28th,  sharing  the 
hospitality  of  Mrs.  Manning,  matron  of  the  Sixth.  t 
During  these  few  days  several  deaths  occurred,  one 
peculiarly  sad.  He  was  the  third  of  four  brothers 
who  came  out  together  and  died  In  less  than  three 
months'  time.  The  fourth  and  only  surviving  one 
had  stood  by  the  dying  bed  of  each  of  the  three,  and 
now  he  was  alone.  How  deeply  my  heart  was  pained 
for  him  in  his  threefold  affliction!  "Oh!"  said  he, 
"I  could  bear  it  if  father  was  only  reconciled;  but 
he  opposed  our  coming;  he  said  we  would  all  die, 
that  the  South  would  never  give  up,  and  that  it 
would  only  be  a  useless  sacrifice  of  life;  but  we 
didn't  think  so,  we  felt  that  it  was  our  duty  to  come, 
and  I  have  no  regrets  to  offer ;  they  died  in  a  good 


And  not  alone  an  Ellsworth  sleeps, 
For  guarding  our  bright  starry  banner, 

And  not  alone  the  nation  keeps 

Its  watch  o'er  Lyon's  grave  of  honor. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  99 

"Others  have  fall'n  for  that  dear  flag, 

Others  as  true  and  noble-hearted, 
And  be  it  ours  to  cherish  still 
The  memory  of  the  brave  departed. 

"  Immortalized  shall  be  each  hand 

That  helped  to  make  our  arms  victorious; 
To  live  for  liberty  is  grand, 
To  die  for  liberty  is  glorious." 

While  here,  I  met  for  the  first  time  Mrs.  Gover 
nor  Blair,  whose  presence  was  like  sunshine.  No 
truer  friend  had  the  soldier  than  Mrs.  Blair;  she 
was  ever  ready,  heart  and  hand,  to  engage  in  work 
for  our  soldiers.  I  also  had  the  pleasure  of  listening 
to  the  Governor's  soul-stirring,  patriotic  address  to  the 
Sixth  Cavalry.  A  day  or  two  before  leaving  the 
place  I  rode  out  to  the  Chantilly  farm,  some  four 
miles  from  Fairfax,  on  the  Centreville  road.  Upon 
a  portion  of  this  farm  the  battle  of  Chantilly  was 
fought.  It  was  once  a  large  estate  containing  several 
hundred  acres.  The  large  mansion  was  in  ruins ;  the 
yard  surrounding  it  contained  several  acres;  the 
fences  were  all  gone;  yet  it  was  lovely,  even  in  its 
desolation.  A  gravel  carriage  way,  with  shade-trees 
upon  either  side,  led  from  the  two  front  gates  to  the 
house;  shrubbery  and  evergreens  dotted  the  grounds. 
In  the  rear  of  the  mansion,  near  the  garden,  was  a 
pleasant  vine -clad  arbor  —  everything  indicating  a 


100  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

once  happy  home,  surrounded  by  every  comfort.  An 
aged  couple  of  colored  people  were  living  there  in  a 
small  cabin,  probably  their  former  quarters.  The  old 
man  said  that  he  had  lived  there  "  a  heap  o'  years," 
"that  massa  and  missus  and  de  chil'en  run'd  away 
when  the  Yankees  come."  When  asked  if  they  had 
been  slaves,  he  replied,  "Yes,  missus,  we'se  allus 
slaves  till  Massa  Lincoln  free  us."  "  How  old  are 
you,  uncle?"  some  one  inquired  ;  "I  reckon  I'se  nigh 
onto  a  hundred,"  was  his  reply.  We  rode  away, 
leaving  the  poor  old  couple  to  enjoy  their  solitude 
and  their  freedom. 

On  returning  to  Alexandria,  I  hardly  knew  the 
place.  The  town  had  been  treated  to  quite  "a  scare." 
The  rebels  had  become  very  bold  and  threatening; 
it  was  expected  that  they  would  make  a  sudden  dash 
in  some  night.  New  lines  of  fortifications  had  been 
thrown  up,  the  streets  stockaded,  and  cannon  were 
even  placed  in  position ;  but  we  had  no  occasion  to 
use  them,  and  they  were  afterwards  quietly  removed. 

The  next  day  after  my  return  I  went  to  Camp  Con 
valescent  with  fruit  and  clothing  for  our  prisoners  re 
cently  paroled,  who  were  very  destitute,  as  all  returned 
to  us  from  Southern  prison-pens  were.  After  return 
ing  from  camp  I  visited  six  hospitals  and  the  head 
quarters  of  each  division,  and  renewed  my  list  of 
names ;  to  my  surprise  I  found  only  sixty-five  from 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  101 

Michigan,  and  the  majority  of  those  convalescent. 
Toward 'the  last  of  May  I  received  word  from  home 
that  I  could  no  longer  depend  upon  my  friends  to  de 
fray  my  expenses — which  they  had  been  doing  for 
five  months.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  fall  back,  as 
my  only  resort,  upon  the  Association.  The  first  of 
June  I  received  instructions  to  return  to  Fairfax 
Court-House  and  remain  until  further  orders,  to  which 
place  I  went  the  next  day,  in  company  with  Mrs. 
Brainard,  taking  quite  a  supply  of  hospital  stores. 
At  Fairfax  station,  a  couple  of  soldiers,  who  had  kind 
ly  assisted  in  loading  our  goods  at  Alexandria,  again 
lent  us  their  aid,  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  wagon  for 
our  stores,  while  we,  soldier-like,  made  the  distance  on 
foot.  The  day  was  excessively  warm  and  the  road  very 
dusty ;  but  we  rather  enjoyed  the  walk — only  four  miles 
— nothing  for  soldiers ! !  Arriving  at  the  Court-House, 
we  took  leave  of  our  friends.  Brown,  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Maine,  I  never  saw  again,  as  his  regiment  was 
soon  after  mustered  out  of  the  service.  Sergeant  Bab- 
cock,  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  I  saw  several 
times  afterwards,  but  for  a  long  time  before  the  close 
of  the  war  lost  all  track  of  him.  I  hope  they  have 
both  been  spared  to  see  the  return  of  peace,  and  long 
may  they  live  to  enjoy  its  blessings. 

Mrs.  B.  and  I  went  directly  to  the  head-quarters  of 
the  hospital  of  the  Sixth,  and  after  resting  a  few  mo- 


102  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

ments  and  partaking  of  a  dinner  which  the  matron — 
Mrs.  Manning  —  prepared  for  us,  we  made  a  tour 
through  the  hospital,  which  consisted  of  several  tent 
wards  and  a  large  three-story  brick  house — the  one  in 
which  General  Stoughton  was  captured  by  the  rebels 
a  few  months  previous.  •  I  found  that  five  had  died 
since  leaving  them  a  few  days  before;  there  were 
still  many  others  very  sick.  We  each  called  for  a 
towel  and  basin  of  water,  and  went  to  work  bathing 
the  feverish  brows  and  dry  and  husky  hands  of  ty 
phoid's  suffering  victims. 

Mrs.  Brainard  remained  a  couple  of  days  and  re 
turned  to  Washington.  I  was  soon  comfortably  pro 
vided  for.  Doctor  Wilson,  the  Brigade  Surgeon,  fur 
nished  me  with  a  good  wall  tent,  which  the  boys 
fitted  up  nicely  by  flooring,  making  table,  bedstead 
and  ch^rs,  and  surrounding  it  with  evergreens,  which 
made  my  little  home  as  pleasant  and  inviting  as  one 
could  desire. 

About  the  first  work  I  did  was  to  clean  the  brick 
house  of  which  mention  has  been  made.  I  worked 
hard  two  days  and  a  half,  assisted  by  several  soldiers 
detailed  from  the  ambulance  corps.  The  windows, 
paint  and  floors  looked  as  though  they  had  been  for  a 
long  time  strangers  to  soap  and  water.  After  I  had 
finished  cleaning,  and  arranged  the  beds  to  my  liking, 
supplying  those  that  were  destitute  with  sheets  and 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  103 

pillows,  I  made  flower-vases  and  bouquets  with  flowers 
gathered  from  Secesh  gardens,  and  tried  to  make  the 
place  assume  a  somewhat  home-like  appearance.  The 
Seventh  seemed  to  suffer  more  from  disease  than  the 
other  regiments,  yet  there  was  much  sickness  in  all  of 
them.  It  was  often  my  painful  duty  to  stand  by  the 
dying-bed  and  go  down  with  the  departing  soul  to  the 
"Kiver's"  brink.  And  then  another  sad  duty  re 
mained—that  of  writing  to  the  friends  of  the  deceased ; 
and  I  sometimes  thought  this  the  saddest  part  of  all. 
I  never  held  a  dying  hand  until  the  pulse  grew  still 
without  wishing  I  might  exchange  places  with  some 
dear  absent  one.  I  will  give  an  extract  from  a  letter 
received  from  a  bereaved  wife,  which  will  express  the 
language  of  thousands  of  hearts : 

"  How  thankful  I  am  for  your  kindness*  to  one 
dearer  to  me  than  all  earthly  friends.  Oh,  it  is  hard 
to  give  him  up  I — it  seems  like  tearing  my  poor  heart 
in  pieces.  I  would  have  given  worlds,  had  I  pos 
sessed  them,  for  the  privilege  of  sitting  by  his  side, 
as  you  did,  even  for  one  short  hour.  Oh,  how  anx 
iously  I  had  looked  forward  to  his  coming  home,  that 
we  might  once  more  enjoy  life  together.  My  dear 
husband  did  not  go  into  the  army  for  money  or  plea 
sure,  but  because  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  serve  his 
country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  and  to  defend  the  old 


104  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

flag  which  had  always  protected  him.  .  .  .  His  poor 
little  fatherless  children,  they  know  not  what  a  bless 
ing  they  have  lost;  but  I  am  comforted  with  the 
thought  that  he  is  at  rest." 

While  I  found  much  to  do,  I  was  quite  well  sup 
plied  with  material  to  do  with  —  our  association  at 
Washington  sending  me  from  time  to  time  additional 
supplies.  I  recollect  at  one  time,  among  other  things, 
was  a  box  of  lemons,  which  was  more  acceptable  than 
anything  else,  coming  at  a  time  when  the  weather 
was  oppressively  hot,  and  there  being  so  many  cases 
of  fever.  The  Christian  Commission  gave  me  per 
mission  to  draw  from  their  stores  such  things  as  I  was 
not  supplied  with.  During  my  stay  at  this  place, 
various  and  conflicting  rumors  were  constantly  afloat, 
causing  much  excitement  and  some  alarm.  I  speak 
from  personal  experience.  I  had  not  as  yet  become 
accustomed  to  "  camp  rumors,"  and,  though  I  did 
not  feel  particularly  afraid,  I  did  feel  at  times  a  "  little 
agitated." 

The  evening  of  the  7th,  a  messenger  was  despatched 
in  great  haste  from  division  head-quarters  to  the  hos 
pital"  department  with  orders  to  hoist  a  "red  flag" 
early  the  next  morning,  for  it  was  reported  that  Lee 
was  advancing  in  the  direction  of  Fairfax. 

Soon  we  were  summoned  to  go  to  work  making 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  105 

flags.  Accordingly  we  assembled  in  the  basement 
of  the  "  Stoughton  House,"  where  a  bright  fire 
was  blazing  on  the  hearth,  and  went  to  work.  We 
made  two  large  flags,  which  at  early  dawn  were 
spread  to  the  breeze,  in  elevated  positions,  which  we 
hoped  would  command  the  respect  and  consideration 
of  the  rebel  chief.  After  finishing  the  flags,  I  packed 
my  trunk,  that  it  might  be  in  readiness  to  send  to 
Washington  in  the  morning, '  should  the  report  be 
confirmed.  As  for  myself,  I  resolved,  with  the  other 
ladies,  not  to  desert  the  sick,  but  stay  and  share  their 
fate,  whatever  it  might  be.  It  was  quite  late  when 
we  retired  that  night,  and  I  must  confess  my  sleep 
was  somewhat  disturbed  with  unpleasant  dreams: 
several  times  I  awoke  and  listened  to  hear  the  tread 
of  the  advancing  foe,  but  listened  and  looked  in  vain. 
Again,  on  the  26th  instant,  there  was  considerable 
excitement  at  our  department.  Moseby,  it  was  feared, 
would  make  a  sudden  dash  into  camp  before  morning, 
and  carry  off  considerable  plunder,  if  no  prisoners. 
That  evening  Dr.  Spalding  was  called  to  go  to  the 
camp  of  the  Sixth — some  nine  miles  distant — to  see 
an  officer  who  had  been  taken  suddenly  sick.  Before 
leaving,  he  handed  me  the  key  to  his  trunk,  saying: 
"  If  Moseby  should  make  a  dash  in  here  to-night,  try 
and  secure  my  papers,  and,  if  possible,  my  money." 
But  I  did  not  have  a  chance  to  display  my  bravery, 


106  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

or  to  call  into  exercise  my  skill  in  secreting  valuables; 
and  yet  our  fears  were  not  at  all  times  groundless,  for 
the  country  was  infested  with  roving  bands  of  guer 
rillas,  ever  ready  for  plunder.  Occasionally  a  man 
shot  -on  picket  by  these  desperadoes  was  brought  in, 
and  not  unfrequently  a  squad  of  cavalry-men  was  sent 
out  to  scour  the  country  for  these  worse  than  rebels. 
Skirmishes  and  battles  were  of  frequent  occurrence. 

The  9th,  a  severe  cavalry  fight  took  place  at  Bever 
ly  Ford,  on  the  Eappahannock,  and,  a  week  later, 
the  battle  of  Aldie.  Everything  indicated  that  an 
active,  and,  we  hoped,  a  decisive  campaign  was  about 
to  open. 

The  14th,  news  was  received  that  Hooker  was  on 
the  move,  and  early  the  next  morning  this  report  was 
confirmed,  for  the  wagon-train  of  the  Twelfth  Corps 
was  actually  parked  within  sight.  Soon  the  artillery 
began  to  come  in,  and  then  the  infantry.  All  day 
and  night  troops  continued  to  arrive,  until  the  great 
Army  of  the  Potomac  was  encamped  around  us.  The 
thousands  of  camp-fires,  and  the  fine  martial  music 
discoursed  by  various  bands,  made  it  a  scene  surpass 
ingly  grand.  A  day  or  two  after,  I  witnessed  the 
artillery  review  by  General  Hooker.  I  have  no  words 

to  describe  it. 

#  •*  *  *  -x-  * 

But  the  ever-shifting  scenes  of  war  soon  change  the 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  107 

programme,  and  those  weary,  foot -sore  troops  are 
again  on  the  move,  as  yet  scarcely  rested  from  their 
fatiguing  march  from  Falmouth,  through  heat  and 
dust  almost  intolerable;  but,  before  leaving,  a  kind 
providence  sent  a  plentiful  shower  upon  the  thirsty 
earth,  laying  the  dust  and  cooling  the  heated  atmos 
phere  ;  otherwise  the  number  of  those  who  gave  out 
by  the  way  must  have  been  greatly  increased. 

General  Hooker  retained  his  head-quarters  at 
Fairfax  a  few  days  longer,  but  was  soon  after  super 
seded  by  General  Meade,  who,  with  this  mighty 
army,  was  soon  engaged  in  the  terrible  conflict  of 
Gettysburg. 

Hooker  was  soon  after  assigned  to  a  command  in  the 
West,  and  a  few  months  later  we  hear  of  him  "  fight 
ing  above  the  clouds"  at  Lookout. 

"Ah!  see  where  the  chief  leads  on  his  stern  band, 
'Mid  the  swift  hail  of  death  so  calmly  advancing, 

To  strike  the  proud  bulwarks  by  rebel  hosts  manned, 
Death  certain  and  quick  from  every  side  glancing. 

"Tis  now  the  mid-hour  of  the  battle's  dread  light ; 

Oh!   faint  soldier,  say,  how  goes  the  fierce  fight? 

Our  broad  starry  banner,  our  hope  and  our  pride, 

Doth  it  rise,  doth  it  fall  on  the  mountain's  dark  side? 

"  Amid  the  cannon's  loud  roar  and  the  shriek  of  the  shell, 

The  wave  of  fierce  battle  rolls  louder  and  higher; 
Enveloped  in  smoke,  hoarse  shouts  alone  tell 

That  our  hopes  are  still  rushing  on  through  that  fire ; 


108 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE. 


But  see  where  it  glides  up  the  mountain's  dark  side, 
Now  lost  in  the  smoke,  now  flaunting  out  wide. 
Oh,  rebellion  has  fallen !  let  traitors  despair, 
For  our  banner  now  floats  in  the  mountain's  pure  air." 

Later  in  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  orders  came  to 
break  up  our  hospitals,  and  before  daylight  the  next 
morning  the  sick  were  all  removed;  at  sunrise  the 
cavalry  were  on  the  move.  Mrs.  Maryweather, 
matron  of  the  Fifth,  going  with  them  on  the  march, 
Mrs.  Manning  had  an  opportunity  to  go  to  Wash 
ington,  on  horseback,  while  I  was  left  alone  to  get 
away  as  best  I  could  with  the  remainder  of  my  stores. 
Oh,  how  lonely  and  desolate  everything  appeared! 
Tents  struck,  blankets,  pillows,  and  dishes  scattered 
about,  nothing  left  in  the  line  of  edibles  but  "  hard 
tack."  Of  all  the  loneliness  I  ever  experienced  that 
day  caps  the  climax.  The  first  thing  I  did  was  what 
any  silly  woman  would  have  done — gave  myself  up  to 
a  good  cry ;  and  then  I  went  to  work  packing  up,  and 
trying  to  save  the  best  of  the  bedding.  About  noon 
a  drizzling  rain  came  on,  which  added  gloom  to  loneli 
ness.  I  had  about  made  up  my  mind  that  I  should  not 
get  away  that  day,  and  was  trying  to  fix  up  some  nice 
little  speech  to  make  to  his  excellency,  Mr.  Moseby, 
in  case  he  should  give  me  a  call,  which,  in  all  proba 
bility,  he  would  do  before  morning — when,  as  mis 
ery  likes  company,  I  was  not  a  little  comforted  to  find 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  109 

that  Rev.  Mr.  Chapin,  a  "  Christian  Commission  "  del 
egate,  had  not  left  the  place,  but  was  also  waiting  an 
opportunity  to  remove  his  goods  to  the  station,  and 
who  would  likewise  be  honored  with  the  company  of 
this  distinguished  guest  (! )  But  my  little  speech  was 
never  made,  for  about  three  o'clock  transports  came  to 
remove  the  hospital  stores.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
first  team,  I  hastily  inquired  of  the  driver  if  he  would 
take  a  few  things  for  me  to  the  Station.  "  Yes,"  he 
replied,  "and  yourself  in  the  bargain."  What  a  sud 
den  change  came  over  the  face  of  everything !  Even 
the  misty  rain,  a  short  time  since  so  gloomy,  is  now 
just  what  we  need  to  lay  the  dust.  How  pleasant  and 
cheerful  the  plain,  homely  face  of  the  driver  looks :  no 
fears  now  of  "  Moseby  and  Co."  Being  provided  for 
myself,  I  next  interceded,  successfully,  too,  for  Mr. 
Chapin.  Our  goods  are  soon  piled  into  the  wagon, 
and  we  quite  comfortably  seated  on  the  top  of  the 
load  with  our  heads  reaching  the  canvas  above ;  but  a 
queen  in  her  chariot  was  never  happier  than  I.  The 
farewell  look  is  given  Fairfax,  and  we  are  off  for 
the  station,  but  are  too  late  for  the  train,  so  have 
to  wait  until  six  o'clock,  when  the  last  train  leaves, 
and  we  have  no  more  communication  with  the  place 
for  several  months.  The  balance  of  army  supplies 
not  removed  up  to  that  time  was  burned.  Arrived 
at  Alexandria  about  eight  o'clock,  in  the  rain  and  mud. 


HO  THE   BOYs   i$    WHITE. 


In  looking  over  the  paper  the  next  morning,  about 
the  first  thing  I  noticed  was  "Moseby  at  Fairfax 
Court-House."  Two  Union  ladies  living  a  few  miles 
from  Fairfax,  in  the  vicinity  of  Vienna,  were  made 
unwilling  captives. 

****** 

As  I  was  returning  from  Washington  the  next 
day,  where  I  had  been  to  look  after  my  Fairfax 
patients,  I  met  on  the  boat  a  lady  with  a  little  child, 
who  had  come  from  Maine  to  see  her  husband, 
who  was  sick  at  Camp  Convalescent.  What  a  look, 
almost  of  despair,  was  depicted  on  her  countenance 
when  she  learned  that  this  camp  was  nearly  four 
miles  from  Alexandria,  the  going  very  bad,  and 
there  being  no  public  mode  of  conveyance.  "  Oh  !  " 
she  exclaimed,  "What  shall  I  do?  what  shall  I  do? 
Were  it  not  for  my  child,  I  would  go  on  foot."  It 
was  my  happy  privilege  to  relieve  her  distress  by 
assuring  her  that  a  way  should  be  provided.  Arriv 
ing  at  Alexandria,  I  ordered  an  ambulance  and 
carried  her  to  the  camp.  What  a  happy  meeting! 
Had  I  never  before  seen  gratitude,  I  saw  it  then. 

In  working  for  the  soldiers,  every  little  deed  of 
kindness  was  so  fully  appreciated,  and  so  richly 
rewarded  with  thanks  and  tears,  that  there  was  a 
pleasure  experienced  in  it  no  where  else  to  be  found. 

The  month  of  July,  1863,  was  an   eventful  period 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  Ill 

in  the  history  of  the  nation.  A  period  of  hope  and 
fear,  of  joy  and  sorrow,  of  excitement  and  alarm, 
of  bloody  conflicts,  of  defeat  and  victory,  of  untold 
suffering  and  death. 

Lee's  advance  into  Pennsylvania,  the  terrible  battles 
of  Gettysburg,  of  Falling  Waters,  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  the  wearisome  march 
from  Vicksburg  to  Jackson,  in  which  so  many  died 
from  exhaustion,  from  thirst  and  the  oppressive  heat, 
the  re-taking  of  Jackson,  the  capture  of  Huntsville, 
Morgan's  raid  into  Ohio,  the  great  draft  riot  in  New 
York,  and  much  else  of  importance  that  transpired 
during  the  month  of  July,  are  too  well  remembered 
to  need  repetition  here.  The  nation  has  not  yet 
forgotten  the  joyful  tidings,  that  the  discomfited  Lee 
was  in  full  retreat  from  Gettysburg;  nor  the  wild 
bursts  of  enthusiasm,  the  shouts  of  victory  that  rent 
the  air  when  the  news  came  flashing  over  the  wires 
that  Vicksburg,  "the  city  of  an  hundred  hills,"  "the 
heroic  city,"  had  fallen.  Fortune,  the  "fickle  god 
dess,"  so  long,  it  would  seem,  in  league  with  the  enemy, 
became  propitious  and  smiled  upon  our  cause. 


112  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


PLACES  OF  INTEREST  IN  ALEXANDRIA — BALTIMORE — A  SINGULAR 
STORY — DEATH  OF  A  MASSACHUSETTS  SOLDIER — THE  SERI 
OUSLY  WOUNDED — ERIE — MY  SISTER'S  SICKNESS — HARRIS- 
BURG — YORK — REBEL  WOUNDED — A  PARALYTIC — WASHING 
TON  HOSPITALS — FREQUENT  BATTLES — NEW  ARRIVALS — 
MRS.  GRAY — AFFLICTED  FRIENDS — DR.  TRUE. 

ON  returning  to  Alexandria  I  found  comparatively 
few  Michigan  men  in  the  hospitals,  and  these  mostly 
convalescent;  therefore  my  work  in  this  place  en 
tirely  ceased  for  several  weeks.  t 

Among  the  few  places  of  interest  to  a  stranger  visit 
ing  Alexandria  is  the  little  brick  church  where 
George  Washington  used  to  worship.  Though  the 
building  has  undergone  repairs,  the  old-fashioned 
square  pew  formerly  occupied  by  this  good  man  and 
his  family  remains  unchanged ;  the  plate  on  the  door 
bears  this  inscription :  "  Washington's  pew."  An 
other  place  of  interest  is  the  "  Slave  Pen."  Within 
this  dingy  enclosure  thousands  of  human  beings  have 
been  crowded  like  cattle  for  the  market,  and  from 
thence  brought  forth  to  the  auction-block.  It  still 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  113 

bears  the  name  of  him  who  once  trafficked  in  flesh 
and  blood.  "  Rice  &  Co.,  Dealers  in  Slaves,"  may  to 
this  day  be  seen — though  dimly — over  the  main  en 
trance.  A  fresh  coat  of  paint  has  been  added,  as  if 
ashamed  to  stand  out  boldly  in  the  pure  light  of 
liberty.  But  the  place  of  all  others  of  the  most  deep 
and  thrilling  interest  in  this  slavery-cursed  city,  is 
the  place  where  "the  Boys  in  White"  lie  sepulchred. 
At  the  present  time — November,  1869 — instead  of 
three  hundred  turfless  graves,  as  at  my  first  visit, 
.there  are  more  than  thrice  as  many  thousand  grass- 
covered  mounds,  each  with  a  neat,  white  head-board 
bearing  the  name  of  him  who  fell  in  freedom's  holy 
cause,  or  that  saddest  of  all  sad  words,  "  Unknown." 

To  this  sacred  "rest"  long  pilgrimages  will  be  made 
through  coming  years  by  those  who  mourn  the  loved 
and  lost,  and  who,  "with  cautious  step  and  slow,"  will 
wander  amid  this  sea  of  graves,  anxiously  looking  for 
some  cherished  name. 

Near  the  entrance  stands  a  little  rustic  chapel,  oc 
cupied  by  a  one-armed  soldier,  who  has  charge  of  the 
grounds — which  are  most  beautiful,  being  interspersed 
with  trees,  shrubbery  and  flowers,  while  cooling  foun 
tains  and  pleasant  arbors  adorn  the  quiet  place. 
Henceforth,  in  the  spring-time  of  the  year,  willing 
hands  will  cull  sweet  flowers  as  a  floral  offering  to 
our  heroic  dead ! 


114  THE   BOYS   IN"   WHITE. 

"  Forever  be  these  sacred  fields 

Decked  in  immortal  beauty, 
Where  sleep  the  brave  who  fought  and  fell 

For  freedom  and  for  duty. 
They  lie  on  glory's  camping-ground, 

On  high  their  deeds  recorded  ; 
No  nobler  act  on  history's  page, 

On  fame's,  no  prouder  lauded." 


The  16th  of  July  I  was  called  to  Washington, 
where  I  received  instructions  to  go  to  Baltimore,  as 
many  of  the  wounded  had  arrived  there  from  Gettys 
burg.  I  was  greatly  disappointed,  for  I  had  earnestly 
hoped  to  be  sent  to  Gettysburg,  believing  that  I  could 
do  vastly  more  good  there  than  any  where  else  at 
that  particular  time.  However,  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  I  took  the  eleven  o'clock  train  for  Baltimore. 
On  the  way  I  fell  in  company  with  a  lady  who  called 
herself  Jimmeson,  though  her  true  name,  she  told  me, 
was  Frank  Abel.  Her  story  was  indeed  a  strange 
one.  It  was  as  follows:  Her  husband  entered  the 
service  with  the  rank  of  captain  in  a  Kentucky  regi 
ment  of  cavalry,  and  she  as  his  first  lieutenant.  Her 
husband  was  killed  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Eun, 
after  which  she  was  employed  as  a  scout  by  General 
Sigel.  She  had  endured  many  hardships,  visited 
several  battle-fields,  and  assisted  —  as  she  belonged  to 
the  medical  staff  —  in  performing  amputations  and 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  115 

dressing  wounds.  She  was  once  captured  by  the 
Kebels  and  confined  in  Libby  Prison  several  weeks ; 
but  at  the  time  of  which  I  write  she  claimed  to  be 
a  Government  detective  in  the  City  of  Washington, 
and  was  then  on  her  way  to  Baltimore  to  arrest  a 
woman  with  whom  she  had  had  a  quarrel.  What 
became  of  her  after  we  parted  at  Baltimore,  whether 
she  found  her  victim  or  not,  I  never  learned,  for  I 
have  neither  seen  nor  heard  of  her  since. 

Arriving  in  Baltimore,  I  proceeded  directly  to  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Keid's,  where  I  obtained  board.  This  was 
the  same  Christian  family  by  whom  sister  and  I  were 
so  kindly  and  hospitably  entertained  when  we  first  ar 
rived  in  Alexandria  on  our  sad  mission. 

There  were  six  hospitals  in  Baltimore,  situated  from 
one  to  four  miles  apart.  As  a  general  thing  I  found 
them  more  comfortable  than  any  I  had  previously 
visited ;  and  yet  there  was  much  suffering  which  the 
most  tender  care  could  not  alleviate.  I  will  give  a 
single  extract  from  my  journal  which  will  convey 
something  of  an  idea  of  the  sad,  distressing  scenes 
there  witnessed: 

July  28th. 

Visited  Jarvis  Hospital,  and  distributed  lemons, 
oranges,  and  blackberries.  This  has  been  one  of  the 
saddest  visits  I  have  made  since  corning  to  Baltimore. 


116  THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE, 

In  one  of  the  wards  was  a  sergeant  of  the  Ninth 
Massachusetts  volunteers,  dying.  His  wife  and  moth 
er  had  just  arrived.  The  dying  man  recognized 
them,  and,  taking  the  hand  of  his  wife,  kissed  her, 
and  then  kissed  his  mother,  bade  them  farewell, 
closed  his  eyes,  and  was  soon  gone.  The  circum 
stances  of  his  death  are  most  aggravating.  His 
wound  was  dressed  with  bandages  and  lint  taken  to 
the  hospital  by  rebel  women,  which,  upon  examina 
tion,  were  found  sprinkled  with  cayenne  pepper.  He 
suffered  the  most  excruciating  pain  from  the  time 
the  bandages  were  first  used,  which  so  irritated  and 
inflamed  the  wound  that  death  was  the  result.  After 
escaping  the  deadly  effects  of  rebel  lead,  a  fiend  in 
friendship's  guise  takes  his  life.  A  hundred  deaths 
at  the  hands  of  a  manly  foe  would  not  be  half  so 
trying.  But  this  is  only  another  example  of  the 
malignity  and  cruel  hatred  born  of  and  nursed  by 
Secession.  At  the  dying  man's  head  was  one  se 
riously  wounded,  and  a  great  sufferer,  while  at  his 
feet  was  another,  holding  in  his  hand  a  letter  from 
home,  containing  the  sad  news  that  two  of  his  chil 
dren  lay  at  the  point  of  death.  His  quivering  lip 
and  tear-dimmed  eye  were  more  potent  than  words 
in  expressing  his  overwhelming  sorrow.  In  another 
ward  was  a  poor  man  who  had  lost  both  eyes  ;  by 
his  side  was  a  young  boy  with  a  sweet,  pale  face, 


THE    BOYS    IN    WHITE.  117 

who,  in  addition  to  his  wounds,  was  delirious  with 
fever;  a  few  cots  from  him  was  another  young  man 
with  five  wounds,  whose  clenched  hands  and  con 
vulsed  frame  expressed  untold  agony.  A  little  far 
ther  along  was  an  old  man  with  a  deep  sabre-cut  in 
his  head,  and  another  in  the  back  of  his  neck; 
another  was  suffering  greatly  with  a  wound  in  the 
ankle.  Time  would  fail  me  to  mention  the  many 
with  an  arm  off,  a  leg  amputated,  wounded  in  the 
head,  in  the  lungs,  and  in  every  other  conceivable 
manner.  From  none  of  those  with  whom  I  have 
conversed  to-day  have  I  heard  one  word  of  regret 
expressed  for  going  into  the  army;  but,  on  the  con 
trary,  many  were  anxious  again  to  cross  sabres  and 
try  their  muskets  'with  the  enemy.  It  is  an  aston 
ishing  fact  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  suffering  ex 
perienced  in  our  hospitals,  an  air  of  cheerfulness 
pervades  them  all.  It  seems  unaccountable,  unless 
we  look  upon  it  as  a  miraculous  display  of  God's 
all-sustaining  power  and  grace. 


Next  day  1  again  visited  the,  same  hospital,  taking 
sundry  articles  for  distribution.  While  there  I  at 
tended  the  funeral  of  the  sergeant  whose  sad  death 
I  have  already  noticed.  Services  were  held  in  the 
open  air,  beneath  the  spreading  branches  of  beauti- 


118  THE    BOY3   IN   WHITE. 

ful  shade- trees.  The  solemn  scene  was  one  not  soon 
to  be  erased  from  memory.  The  young  wife  and 
aged  mother  were  the  only  mourners  to  follow  his 
remains  to  the  grave.  But,  alas!  how  many  a  poor 
soldier  dies  with  none  to  drop  a  tear  to  his  memory 
until  the  intelligence  is  borne  over  mountains  and 
across  valleys,  through  fruitful  plains  and  gloomy 
forests,  to  some  humble  cottage  on  the  lawn.  Oh! 
then  what  tears  are  shed — and  all  the  more  bitter 
because  they  cannot  even  fall  upon  the  grave  of  him 
they  loved  so  well.  And  yet  there  is  a  still  deeper 
grief.  Many  there  are,  who,  could  they  only  know 
where  their  dear  ones  sleep,  would  feel  that  the  bit 
terest  dreg  was  removed  from  their  cup  of  sorrow. 
Alas !  their  fate  will  only  be  known  when  the  great 
book  of  God's  accounts  is  unsealed.  Many  a  heart 
responds  to  the  painful  truth  expressed  in  the  fol 
lowing  words: 

"  Not  among  the  suffering  wounded, 

Not  among  the  peaceful  dead, 
Not  among  the  prisoners — '  Missing ' — 
Tliat  was  all  the  message  said." 

On  the  evening  of  the  30th,  as  I  returned  from 
rny  work,  I  found  a  letter  informing  me  of  the  dan 
gerous  illness  of  my  eldest  sister — Mrs.  Clark — re 
siding  in  Erie  Co.,  Penn.,  and  an  urgent  request  to 
come  to  her  immediately.  At  eight  o'clock  I  was  at 


THE   BOYS    IN    WHITE.  119 

the  depot  waiting  for  the  first  train  going  West. 
Arriving  in  Erie  I  found  my  sister  still  living, 
though  but  little  hope  of  her  recovery  was  enter 
tained;  yet  it  pleased  a  kind  Providence  to  spare 
her  life.  I  remained  with  her  until  she  was  con 
sidered  out  of  danger,  and  then  returned  to  my  hos 
pital  work,  leaving  her  in  care  of  another  sister — 
Mrs.  Smith — who  had  already  been  with  her  nearly 
two  years,  her  husband  being  in  the  army.  I  can 
even  now  see  the  pale  face  of  my  poor  sick  sister  as 
she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck  and  gave  the 
parting  kiss,  saying,  as  she  did  so,  "I  shall  never 
see  you  again  on  earth."  Ah!  I  have  since  expe 
rienced  the  bitter  truth  of  those  words ;  for,  in  little 
more  than  a  year  from  that  time,  she  went  to  her 
eternal  home.  ^ 

"  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth !  " 

Resting  from  the  toils  of  life — 
Safely  moored  her  bark,  and  anchored 
Far  from  earthly  care  and  strife. 

"  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth !  " 
Once  the  gracious  Master  said 
To  those  who  sought  Him,  weeping 
And  sorrowing  for  their  dead. 

"  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth !  " 

In  the  grave  so  calm  and  still, 
She  waiteth  for  the  trumpet's  call, 
Resting  in  her  Father's  will. 


120  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

*'  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepetli !  " 

Thy  blest  words,  O  Christ,  we  trust ; 
For  though  the  body  slumber  long, 
Thou  wilt  raise  the  mouldering  dust. 

Then  cherished  friends,  long  parted, 

That  glorious  morn  shall  meet ; 
All  washed  from  sins  in  Jesus'  blood. 

And  in  a  Saviour's  love  complete. 

And  kindred  souls,  united, 

Their  way  to  heaven  shall  wing; 
While,  with  their  songs  triumphant, 

The  heavenly  arches  ring. 

According  to  instructions,  on  my  return  to  Wash 
ington  I  stopped  at  Harrisburg,  and  spent  three  days 
in  visiting  the  six  hospitals  in  that  city,  looking  up 
Michigan  soldiers,  and  supplying  immediate  wants. 
Rebel  wounded  were  scattered  through  all  of  these 
hospitals,  faring  the  same  as  our  soldiers.  Entering 
into  conversation  with  them,  I  inquired  what  hope 
of  success  the  South  had  left,  and  their  unanimous 
reply  was,  "  Our  cause  is  hopeless."  The  Federal  vic 
tories  of  July  had  well-nigh  discouraged  them.  They 
expressed  great  surprise  at  the  kind  treatment  they 
received ;  they  had  not  expected  this  at  the  hands 
of  the  hated  "  Yanks," 

At  York,  the  city  so  disgracefully  surrendered  to 
the  rebels  a  few  months  previous,  there  was  but 


THE   BOYS    IN    WHITE  121 

one  "hospital ;  it  consisted  of  barracks  built  upon  an 
extensive  plan.  While  here,  I  visited  the  city  ceme 
tery,  where  about  fifty  of  "the  boys  in  white"  were 
buried.  As  I  stood  by  those  turfless  mounds,  my 
heart  was  deeply  pained,  and  I  wondered  that,  in  a 
large  Northern  city,  no  hand  was  found  to  plant  a 
single  flower  upon  a  soldier's  grave.  But  though 
neglected,  though  without  turf  or  flower, 

"On   fame's  eternal   camping-ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards   with   solemn   round 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

The  2d  of  September  I  took  leave  of  my  sick  and 
wounded  boys,  of  whom  I  found  so  many  more  than 
at  Harrisburg,  and  returned  to  Washington,  where 
the  work  of  visiting  hospitals  in  both  that  city 
and  Alexandria  was  assigned  to  me,  as  Mrs.  Brain- 
ard  had  not  yet  returned  from  Gettysburg,  whither 
she  was  sent  soon  after  the  battles  in  July.  My 
first  visit  was  to  Alexandria.  Among  the  many 
whom  I  found  in  those  hospitals  was  one  peculiarly 
sad  case.  Near  the  centre  of  a  large  ward  lay  one 
whose  motionless  appearance  attracted  my  attention  ; 
I  noticed  that  he  did  not  even  make  an  effort  to  brush 
away  the  flies  that  were  crawling  over  his  face.  On 
going  to  his  cot  I  found  that  he  was  a  complete  para- 


122  THE   BOYS   IN"    WHITE. 

Ijtic ;  he  could  only  move  his  head  slightly  and  the 
little  finger  of  one  hand.  This  severe  shock  of  par 
alysis  was  occasioned  by  striking  his  head  against  a 
stone  while  driving.  He  had  then  been  in  that  condi 
tion  several  months,  with  very  little  perceptible 
change;  but  he  was  hopeful,  and  believed  that  he 
should  get  well.  Poor  boy !  I  often  thought  how  true 
in  your  case  the  saying,  "  Were  it  not  for  hope,  the 
heart  would  break."  During  his  stay  at  the  hospital 
I  saw  but  little  change  for  the  better,  and  never  heard 
from  him  after  he  left  it.  I  often  think  of  the  poor, 
pale-faced,  patient,  hopeful  paralytic,  and  wonder  what 
has  become  of  him. 

Of  the  fourteen  large  hospitals  in  Washington,  ten 
consisted  of  barracks  and  tents,  containing  from 
twenty  to  thirty,  and  even  as  many  as  eighty  wards 
each.  The  barracks  would  accommodate  from  fifty 
to  sixty  patients  each,  and  the  tent  wards  about  twenty. 
These  buildings  were  not  all  constructed  upon  the  same 
plan,  but  were  variously  arranged.  In  some,  the  bar 
racks  extended  along  three  sides  of  a  square  enclosure, 
with  head-quarters  at  the  front ;  in  others,  they  enclosed 
a  triangular  piece  of  ground  with  head-quarters  at  the 
apex ;  while  in  others  this  building  was  in  the  centre, 
with  barracks  extending  to  the  right  and  left,  and  tents 
in  the  rear,  and  thus  on  for  all  the  others — each  being 
constructed  upon  a  plan  independent  of  the  rest. 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE  123 

Within  the  enclosed  space  were  the  kitchen,  dining- 
room,  chapel,  and  laundry,  and  the  balance  of  the 
ground  was  devoted  to  gardening  purposes  and  to  the 
cultivation  of  flowers.  The  front  yards  were  also  beau 
tifully  laid  out,  containing  gravel  walks,  evergreens, 
flower-beds,  and  in  some  were  cooling  fountains.  The 
barracks  were  long,  one-story,  whitewashed  buildings. 
In  going  through  some  of  these,  it  seemed  like  enter 
ing  the  home  of  the  fairies:  the  long  row  of  cots  on 
either  side  of  the  ward,  with  their  clean  pillow-slips 
and  snowy  counterpanes,  the  walls  adorned  with 
paintings  and  beautiful  frames  made  by  convales 
cents,  while  to  each  piece  of  scantling  overhead 
were  tacked,  sheets  of  red,  white,  and  blue  tissue- 
paper  curiously  cut,  each  piece  representing  the  differ 
ent  corps  badges.  There  was  the  new  and  full  moon, 
the  plain  and  Maltese  cross,  the  clover-leaf,  the 
diamond,  the  star,  the  acorn  and  the  cross-sabre.  The 
slightest  breeze  would  keep  these  silken  curtains 
gently  swaying  to  and  fro,  making  the  sight  really 
enchanting. 

All  hospitals  were  not  thus  highly  favored  with 
tasty  wardmasters  and  nurses;  but  in  some  they 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  seeing  whose  ward 
should  be  the  most  gorgeously  and  beautifully 
decorated. 

The  work  of  looking  up   from   all   these  hospitals 


124  THE    BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

those  belonging  to  any  particular  State  was  no  light 
task,  yet  it  was  done  by  several  State  associations 
besides  our  own.  Perhaps  no  more  thorough  or  effi 
cient  work  of  the  kind  was  done  by  any  State  than 
Massachusetts.  Maine  did  a  noble  work  for  her 
soldiers,  but  her  agents  were  more  generally  employed 
in  the  field,  where  there  was  a  greater  need  of 
laborers.  At  this  time,  Michigan  men  were  largely 
represented  in  the  hospitals  in  Washington.  At  Lin 
coln  I  found  seventy,  at  Finly  forty,  about  the  same 
number  at  Campbell,  a  large  number  at  Armory 
square,  and  so  for  all  the  hospitals  in  the  city, 
besides  the  many  at  Camp  Stoneman,  Camp  Conval 
escent,  and  Fairfax  Seminary. 

Every  few  days  accessions  were  made  to  our  already 
large  numbers  by  fresh  arrivals  from  the  army,  as  the 
cavalry  were  almost  constantly  on  the  skirmish-line, 
and  engagements  frequently  occurring.  The  13th  of 
the  month — October — there  was  a  brisk  fight  at  Cat- 
tell's  Station  ;  the  14th,  at  Bristow  Station ;  the  18th, 
near  Manassas  Junction,  and  a  few  days  later  at 
Beverly  Ford  ;  and  thus  the  army  continued  to  fight, 
and  the  wounded  to  arrive.  The  sixth  of  the  month 
the  steward  of  the  Ninth  Cavalry  came  from  Culpep- 
per  with  a  large  number  of  sick.  He  reported  the 
sick  at  that  place  in  a  very  destitute  and  neglected 
condition.  On  his  return  I  sent  a  few  things  by  him, 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  125 

only,  however,  what  he  could  take  in  the  car  with  him, 
as  I  could  not  get  transportation  for  even  one  small 
box.  I  tried  to  get  a  pass  to  go  down  with  supplies, 
but  orders  were  imperative — there  was  no  use  trying. 
Mrs.  Gray,  a  lady  from  Pontiac,  Michigan,  worked 
hard  for  weeks  to  obtain  a  pass  that  she  might  go  and 
see  her  sick  husband,  who  was  supposed  to  be  lying 
at  the  point  of  death  ;  but  all  in  vain.  Tears  and  en 
treaties  were  alike  unavailing.  She  frequently  went 
with  me  to  the  hospitals  and  assisted  in  the  work  of 
distribution,  thus  trying  to  forget  her  own  sorrow 
while  administering  to  the  wants  of  others.  Another 
lady,  Mrs.  Brockway,  came  from  Michigan  to  obtain, 
if  possible,  the  body  of  her  son,  who  was  killed  a  few 
days  before  her  arrival ;  but  she  could  go  no  further. 
Through  the  influence  of  our  State  agent — Dr.  Tunne- 
cliff — the  family  succeeded  in  getting  an  order  for  his 
body  to  be  sent  to  "Washington.  For  her  husband 
who  was  sick  she  obtained  a  furlough,  and  returned  to 
her  home  rejoicing  while  she  mourned. 

October  ISth. 

Instead  of  attending  church  this  morning,  I  went  to 
Stanton  Hospital  with  delicacies  for  the  sick.  I  will 
mention  a  few  special  cases  of  suffering  which  I  wit 
nessed  in  one  of  the  wards,  and  which  will  be  a  fair 
specimen  of  the  average  of  such  in  the  other  wards. 


126  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

There  was  one  poor  man  almost  distracted  with  pain 
in  his  head,  the  effects  of  a  sun-stroke ;  the  only  re 
lief  he  could  find  was  in  bathing  his  head  in  cold 
water.  Near  him  was  one  very  low  with  typhoid 
fever,  uttering  incoherent  expressions  about  "battles" 
and  "  marches,"  and  "  home  "  and  "  mother."  A  little 
further  down  the  ward  was  a  poor  fellow  who  was 
brought  in  last  night — having  been  picked  up  by  the 
road-side,  in  a  senseless  condition — and  has  not  yet 
returned  to  consciousness.  His  physician  says  he  can 
not  survive,  and,  as  he  has  no  papers,  or  any  means 
by  which  he  can  be  identified,  another  will  soon  be 
added  to  the  long  list  of  the  "unknown."  Soon  after 
returning  home,  a  Mrs.  Smith,  from  New  Jersey, 
called,  and  requested  me  to  return  with  her  to  the 
same  hospital.  She  had  come  to  see  her  sick  son; 
but,  upon  her  arrival  at  the  hospital  last  evening, 
found  that  he  was  already  dead,  and  was  requested  by 
the  surgeon,  when  she  asked  to  see  him,  to  wait  until 
this  morning,  as  it  was  then  late.  On  going  to  see 
him  this  morning  with  the  hope  of  following  his 
remains  to  the  grave,  she  found,  to  her  horror  and 
amazement,  that  he  was  already  buried.  The  officer 
who  had  charge  of  the  burying  was  deeply  grieved 
that  he  had  not  been  notified  of  the  arrival  of  the 
mother  of  the  young  man,  while  the  doctor  could 
only  plead  forgetfulness  as  an  excuse  for  not  inform- 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  127 

ing  him.  The  only  consolation  left  her — and  that  a 
poor  one — was  to  visit  his  grave.  An  ambulance  was 
ordered,  and  we  drove  out  to  the  "  Soldier's  Home." 
It  was  now  dark ;  the  undertaker  directed  us  to  the 
spot,  and  there,  by  the  aid  of  a  lamp,  that  widowed 
mother  was  permitted  to  look  upon  the  newly-made 
grave,  which  contained  all  that  remained  of  her  only 
son,  upon  whose  breast  a  few  hours  before  the  cold 
earth  had  been  heaped.  While  I  wept  with  this  sor 
rowing  mother,  I  was  filled  with  indignation  at  the 
outrage  to  which  she  had  been  compelled  to  submit. 
If  that  surgeon  possessed  the  common  feelings  of  hu 
manity,  he  would  have  ordered  the  body  disinterred, 
and  thus  have  given  the  poor  woman  the  little  conso 
lation  she  might  have  obtained  from  gazing  once  more 
upon  the  features  of  her  darling  boy ;  but  even  this 
sad  privilege  was  denied  her.  To-morrow  she  returns 
to  her  lonely  home,  whose  light  has  been  forever 
extinguished. 

****** 

Among  the  sick  at  Campbell  Hospital,  at  this  time, 
were  two  Michigan  soldiers,  very  low  with  typhoid 
fever.  The- father  of  one  of  these  was  with  him,  and, 
after  a  long  illness,  his  poor,  sick  boy,  unexpectedly 
to  us  all,  recovered.  The  other,  poor  Warren  Max- 
field — the  patient,  uncomplaining  boy  (all  were  boys 
in  the  army)  —  lingered  long  weeks  on  the  narrow 


128  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

space  which  separates  the  "now  from  the  hereafter" 
before  he  began  the  other  life.  I  never  think  of  him 
without  recalling  a  little  incident  that  occurred  a  few 
days  before  his  death.  He  wanted  a  small  package  of 
green -tea,  which  of  course  was  granted;  "for,"  he 
said,  "  I  really  believe  it  would  do  me  good.  Not 
that  I  care  to  drink  so  very  much,  but  I  want  some  to 
smell  of,  it  would  seem  so  reviving,  and  would  remind 
me  of  home,  for  we  always  drink  green-tea  at  home." 
I  relate  his  to  show  how  all  the  influences  and  cus 
toms  and  associations  of  home  were  remembered  and 
cherished  by  those  poor  sick  and  dying  soldiers.  It 
will  be  a  consolation  to  his  friends  to  know  that  in  his 
last  sickness  he  was  kindly  cared  for.  If  skilful 
medical  treatment  and  good  nursing  could  have  saved 
life,  neither  he  nor  any  in  that  ward  would  have  died, 
for,  according  to  the  testimony  of  his  patients,  Dr. 
True  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  efficient  sur 
geons  to  be  found  in  any  of  our  hospitals.  When  any 
under  his  charge  were  dangerously  ill,  he  would  often 
visit  them  four  and  five  times  during  a  single  night, 
watching  every  symptom  and  noting  every  change, 
whether  for  better  or  worse,  and  only  relinquishing 
hope  with  the  last  expiring  breath.  Oh,  how  much 
the  world  needs  such  humane,  Christian  physicians ! 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  129 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MORE  TROUBLE  WITH  DOCTORS — DISCHARGE-PAPERS  DELAYED — 
RECORDS  EXAMINED — THE  REPORT — REMOVAL  OF  A  6UR 
GEON — DISCHARGE  BY  DEATH — A  SURGEON  QUARRELS  WITH 
ONE  OF  HIS  PATIENTS — HIS  BEMOVAL-^LOW  STATE  OF  OUR 
FINANCES  —  THOUGHTS  OF  DISORGANIZING  —  THE  APPEAL 
FOR  AID — RECEIPT  OF  GOODS — A  SELF-SACRIFICING  MOTHER 
—BATTLE  NEAR  KELLY'S  FORD. 

October  19th. 

I  WENT  to  Alexandria  this  morning  to  learn 
whether  the  reports  concerning  the  treatment  of  some 
of  our  boys  in  a  certain  hospital  in  that  city  were 
true.  Arriving  at  the  hospital,  I  asked  for  a  list 
of  the  Michigan  men  who  were  there,  obtaining 
which,  I  started  to  go  through  the  wards,  when  an 
orderly  came  running  after  me,  saying  :  "  The  doctor 
says  you  can't  go  through  the  hospital"  This  was 
something  new,  and  I  began  to  think  there  was  some 
truth  in  the  reports.  I  went  directly  to  the  doctor's 
office  and  inquired  what  all  this  meant.  He  replied, 
"You  must  have  a  written  permit  from  Dr.  Bently, 
who  is  surgeon-in-charge  of  this  division,  before  you 


130  THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

can  go  through  my  hospital."  I  still  insisted  on 
going  through,  without  waiting  to  see  Dr.  B.,  whose 
office  was  nearly  a  mile  from  there.  "  Well,  then," 
he  said,  "  I  will  go  and  see  him  myself,  and  you  can 
wait  until  I  return."  "  But  I  can't  wait,  doctor ;  I 
shall  go  through  the  wards  while  you  are  gone,"  was 
my  reply.  He  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  said: 
"  Well,  you  may  go  through  them  this  time.  I  guess 
it  will  be  all  right."  "  I  know  it  will  be  all  right, 
doctor,"  I  answered.  He  left  the  hospital,  while  I 
made  a  tour  of  inspection  through  it,  and,  before 
leaving,  I  was  convinced  that  the  reports  in  circula 
tion  were  not  wholly  without  foundation.  .•  .  .  Not 
long  after  this,  I  called  to  see  Dr.  Bently  and  in 
quired  if  it  were  necessary  for  me  to  have  a  pass 
from  him,  in  order  to  be  admitted  to  the  hospitals 
in  his  division,  and  then  related  the  unpleasant  inter 
view  with  one  of  his  surgeons.  "  By  no  means,"  he 
said.  "And  you  tell  the  doctor  for  me,  that  you 
have  the  privilege  of  visiting  my  hospitals  as  often 
as  you  wish,  and  at  such  times  as  best  suit  your  con 
venience.  If  you  have  any  more  trouble,  let  me 
know."  But  I  managed  to  fight  my  own  battles 
thereafter,  without  calling  upon  him  again,  and  at 
length  gained  the  victory,  as  will  be  seen  a  few 
pages  hence. 

A  few  days  after,  I  again  visited  the  hospital,  tak- 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  131 

ing  with  me,  among  other  things,  two  large  bottles  of 
blackberry-wine,  designed  for  special,  cases.  At  the 
door  I  was  informed  by  the  guard  that  the  doctor  was 
not  in,  and  that  he  had  given  him  positive  orders  to 
admit  no  one — not  even  the  President  of  the  United 
States — during  his  absence.  I  did  not  wish  the  sol 
dier  to  violate  orders,  but  I  did  want  to  be  admitted. 
I  finally  obtained  the  desired  permission  from  the 
sergeant  of  the  guard.  I  left  the  wine  in  care  of  one 
of  the  nurses,  with  instructions  to  give  none  of  it  to 
the  patients  until  the  doctor's  return;  if  it  met  his 
approbation,  well.  Seeing  no  cause  for  offence,  I  left 
the  hospital  before  his  "highness"  returned.  But 
upon  my  next  visit  I  learned  that  the  doctor,  upon 
his  return,  was  mad  with  rage,  and,  seizing  one  of  the 
bottles,  hurled  it  out  of  the  window — the  other  was 
saved  by  being  hidden  under  the  sick  man's  pillow 
for  whom  it  was  intended—  shamefully  abused  the 
guard,  threatened  the  sergeant  (which,  haply,  was 
all  he  could  do,  there  being  a  limit  to  his  power),  and 
declared  that  his  orders  should  be  obeyed.  He  for 
whom  the  wine  was  hidden  took  it  without  the  doc 
tor's  knowledge,  and  recovered;  while  the  other — 
poor  Mr.  Kinney — died  a  few  days  after.  I  do  not 
know  that,  in  the  former  case,  the  wine  hastened  the 
sick  man's  recovery,  neither  do  I  believe  that  it 
retarded  it  As  to  the  other,  I  do  not  think  it  would 


132  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

have  saved  life  or  hastened  death ;  but  there  being  so 
little  hope  of  h,is  recovery,  and  he  so  anxious  to  take 
it,  it  seemed  cruel  and  inhuman  to  deny  him.  Let 
the  case  be  as  it-  may,  with  reference  to  those  in  ques 
tion,  there  were  many  instances  in  which  blackberry- 
wine  was  the  means  of  saving  life  and  restoring 
health. 

Not  long  after  this,  I  made  application  to  this  same 
high  official  (!) — a  contract  surgeon,  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant — for  the  discharge  of  two  soldiers,  viz., 
Steven  Benson,  of  the  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  and 
Daniel  Peters,  of  the  Sixth — the  former  sick  with 
consumption,  the  other  with  chronic  diarrhoea.  I  was 
informed  by  the  doctor  that  these  two  persons  had 
already  been  examined  for  discharge,  their  papers 
made  out,  and  forwarded  to  the  office  of  the  Medical 
Director  for  approval.  This  of  course  satisfied  me; 
but  I  always  made  it  convenient,  whenever  I  went 
to  Alexandria  to  call  and  inquire  concerning  them. 
Weeks  passed,  and  nothing  was  heard  from  them.  I 
again  went  to  the  doctor,  and  inquired  "  if  he  could 
account  for  the  delay."  He  replied :  "  I  made  up 
my  mind  some  days  ago  that  they  were  lost,  and  have 
had  them  made  out  the  second  time,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  they  will  be  returned  in  a  few  days.7'  I  now 
felt  doubly  sure  that  all  was  as  he  had  said. 

After  waiting  a  reasonable  length  of  time,  .1  went 


1HE   BOYS   IN   WHITE,  133 

over  again — for  T  felt  exceedingly  anxious  about  them 
— when,  to  mj  surprise,  I  learned  that  nothing  had 
yet  been  heard  from  them.  I  returned  to  Washing 
ton,  went  to  the  Medical  Director's,  and  inquired  why 
it  was  those  papers  were  so  long  delayed.  The 
records  were  examined,  and  I  was  informed  that  no 
such  papers  had  ever  been  received  there.  I  insisted 
that  it  must  be,  as  they  had  been  sent  the  second 
time.  The  books  were  again  referred  to,  and  carefully 
examined,  but  with  the  same  result  as  before.  I  left 
the  office,  and  immediately  reported  the  facts  to  our 
secretary,  who  reported  the  same  to  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  investigate  all 
such  matters.  What  weight  this  report  had  with  the 
committee  I  did  not  learn,  but  I  was  satisfied  to  know 
soon  after  that  that  surgeon  was  removed  from  the 
hospital.  The  discharge  papers  were  then  made  out, 
but  ere  their  return  to  the  hospital  poor  Benson  had 
received  his  final  discharge  from  earth.  Peters  lived 
to  go  home,  but  whether  he  recovered  or  found  an 
early  grave  I  know  not. 

Not  long  after  this  I  accompanied  Mrs.  Brainard 
to  one  of  our  hospitals  in  Washington.  As  we  entered 
the  building,  we  were  confronted  by  the  surgeon-in- 
charge,  who  demanded  of  Mrs.  B.  to  know  what  she 
had  in  that  basket.  "Flannel  shirts  and  drawers," 
she  replied.  "Well,  you  can't  take  them  into  my 


134  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE 

hospital,"  was  his  quick  and  irritable  response,  at  the 
same  time  seizing  the  basket  and  endeavoring  to 
wrench  it  from  Mrs.  B's.  hands  ;  but,  nothing  daunted^ 
she  gave  a  sudden  jerk  backward  and  cleared  it  from 
the  doctor's  grasp,  saying,  as  she  found  herself  in 
fall  possession  of  her  goods,  "  I  understand  my  busi 
ness,  sir,  and  am  going  to  take  my  things  into  the 
hospital."  Mr.  "Pomposity"  passed  on,  and  we 
entered  the  office  at  our  left,  where  we  were  greeted 
with  a  graceful  salute  by  the  officer  of  the  day,  who 
pleasantly  inquired,  "What  can  I  do  for  you  this 
morning  ?  "  Our  request,  being  rn^de  known,  is  cheer 
fully  granted,  and  our  basket  is  soon  made  lighter 
and  the  sick  boys  happier.  The  difference  there  was 
in  officers  will  readily  be  seen  from  this  incident.  A 
little  " brass"  did  wonders  for  some;  it  made  them 
arrogant,  overbearing,  dictatorial  and  tyrannical,  while 
with  others  it  made  no  difference  whether  they  wore 
the  corporal's  stripe  or  the  general's  star.  Garments 
of  blue,  though  bordered  with  gold,  have  no  power  to 
crush  the  generous  impulses  of  a  noble  soul.  The 
true  gentleman  is  discernible  in  any  garb,  and  under 
all  circumstances.  The  surgeon  with  whom  we  had 
this  encounter  soon  after  got  into  trouble  with  one  of 
his  patients.  One  cold  morning  before  daylight,  one 
of  the  wards  of  his  hospital  took  fire.  This  patient,  a 
convalescent  from  pneumonia,  was  the  first  on  the  roof, 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  135 

* 

where  he  remained  throwing  bucket  after  bucket  of 
water  upon  the  burning  building,  until  the  fire  was  ex 
tinguished.  As  his  clothes  were  dripping  with  water 
when  he  descended,  he  applied  for  some  dry  ones ;  but, 
as  none  could  be  obtained  from  the  ward,  he  appealed 
to  the  surgeon,  who  ordered  him  back  to  his  ward,  tell 
ing  him  he  could  dry  his  clothes  by  the  fire ;  he  still  in 
sisted  upon  having  some,  and  the  doctor  still  refused, 
and  again  ordered  him  to  his  ward.  By  this  time  the 
soldier's  anger  was  pretty  well  aroused,  and,  confront 
ing  the  doctor  with  clenched  fist,  says,  "  Take  care, 
doctor,  I  have  smelled  gunpowder,  and  that  is  more 
than  you  have  done,"  at  the  same  time  planting 
a  blow  between  his  eyes  that  caused  him  to  stagger 
and  nearly  fall  to  the  floor.  Kallying  from  this  stun 
ning  blow,  he  called  out,  "  Guards,  guards,  come  and 
take  this  man  away."  The  order  was  obeyed,  and 
he  was  locked  up  in  the  guard-house.  The  conse 
quence  was  a  relapse,  which  for  a  long  time  threatened 
his  life.  But,  once  released  without  having  charges 
being  preferred  against  him,  and  having  a  good  under 
standing  of  military  regulations,  he  found  that  he 
had  the  advantage  of  the  doctor,  and  he  improved  it 
by  preferring  charges  against  him.  The  result  was, 
that  in  a  few  weeks  we  had  another  surgeon  in  charge 
of  the  hospital — one  whom  the  patients,  as  far  as  I 
ever  knew,  honored  and  respected. 


136  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

I  have  known  other  surgeons  who  deserved  as  little 
respect  as  those  here  referred  to  :  but,  to  the  honor  of 
the  profession  be  it  said,  they  were  not  in  the  majority. 
I  knew  many  noble,  skilful,  self-sacrificing  surgeons 
in  the  army,  whose  whole  energies  were  devoted 
to  the  making  of  their  hospitals  pleasant  and  their 
patients  comfortable. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  month  of  November  the 
finances  of  our  Association  became  very  low.  No 
money  was  received  to  replenish  our  exhausted 
treasury — no  supplies  reached  us,  if  I  mistake  not, 
except  a  few  boxes  from  Lansing.  Had  it  not  been 
for  stores  received  from  other  States  than  our  own, 
our  work  would  almost  entirely  have  ceased. 

In  addition  to  what  Mrs.  Brainard  received  from 
New  York  and  Maryland,  a  nice  barrel  of  goods 
was  sent  me  from  Harbor  Creek,  Pa.,  another  from 
Portland,  Me.,  and  a  firkin  of  pickles  from  an  aged 
lady  living  in  Hampden,  Maine.  The  work  of  pre 
paring  these  had  all  been  done  by  herself ;  but  her 
labor  was  a  thousandfold  repaid  in  gratitude  and 
thanks  and  the  good  accomplished. 

We  occasionally  drew  from  the  Sanitary  and  Chris 
tian  Commissions,  and  the  various  State  Relief  Asso 
ciations,   and  thus   managed   to  keep  at  work.     For 
occasional    drafts    on    the    Sanitary   Commission   we 
were  indebted   to  the   personal   efforts   of  our  State 


THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE.  137 

Agent,  Dr.  Tunnecliff.  In  the  barrel  of  goods  which 
I  have  mentioned  as  coming  from  Maine,  was  a  suit 
of  clothes  once  worn  by  Captain  Crosby,  of  the 
Twenty-second  Maine  volunteers,  who  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Port  Hudson.  The  clothes  were  sent 
by  his  patriotic  mother,  with  the  request  that  they 
be  given  to  some  needy  Maine  soldier,  as  she  wished 
them  to  be  worn  out  in  the  service  in  which  her 
dear  son  had  fallen.  What  a  noble  example  of  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to  country! 

In  order  to  lessen  expenses,  Mrs.  Brainard — who 
had  returned  from  Gettysburg  a  month  before — and 
I  took  rooms  together  and  boarded  ourselves.  A 
meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  Association  was  called 
to  consider  the  subject  of  disorganizing;  but  they 
concluded  to  try  and  maintain  the  organization  until 
spring,  for  they  could  not  bear  the  thought  that 
Michigan — the  first  to  form  a  State  Relief  Associa 
tion  at  the  National  Capital— should  be  the  first  to 
abandon  it.  An  appeal  was  made  through  corre 
spondence,  by  our  Secretary,  to  Governor  Blair,  mem 
bers  of  Congress,  and  other  persons  of  influence  in 
the  State,  setting  forth  the  exhausted  condition,  of 
our  treasury  and  storeroom,  and  inquiring  what  course 
to  pursue.  The  uniform  response  was:  "Don't  for 
a  moment  think  of  discontinuing  your  labors  as  a 
society."  An  appeal  was  then  made  to  the  people  of 


138  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

our  State,  and  not  many  weeks  elapsed  ere  the  call 
was  heeded,  as  the  supplies  received  proved.  Bat 
tles  and  skirmishes  were  of  no  unfrequent  occur 
rence.  A  large  number  of  wounded  were  brought 
in  from  the  battles  near  Kelly's  Ford — Michigan  not 
losing  as  heavily  as  Maine  and  Wisconsin.  The 
Sixth  Maine,  in  one  engagement,  lost  eighteen  com 
missioned  officers  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  those  who  were  passing,  one  after  anoth 
er,  into  the  unknown  world,  was  William  Doyle,  of 
the  Third  Michigan  volunteers,  whose  death  was 
sudden — unexpected.  He  was  convalescing  from  in 
termittent  fever,  and  had  written  to  his  wife,  stating 
the  time  she  might  hope  to  welcome  him  home,  as 
he  had  applied  for  a  furlough  which  he  was  daily 
expecting.  He  predicted  rightly.  The  time  of  his 
arrival  was  only  a  little  delayed.  But,  alas!  only 
the  clay  tenement  returned  to  rest  where  loving 
hands  would  bedeck  its  tomb  with  flowers,  and  the 
tears  of  affection  water  his  grave. 

"  Underneath  the  sod  low  lying, 

Dark  and  drear, 

Sleepeth  one,  who  left  in  dying 
Sorrow  here. 

"  Yes,  they're  ever  bending  o'er  him 

Eyes  that  weep ; 

Forms  that  to  the  cold  earth  bore  him, 
Vigils  keep. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  139 

"  When  the  summer  moon  is  shining 

Soft  and  fair, 

Friends  he  loved,  in  tears  are  twining 
Chaplets  there. 

"  Rest  in  peace,  thou  gentle  spirit 

Throned  above ; 

Souls  like  thine  with  God  inherit 
Life  and  love  I  " 


1-iO  THE    BOYS   IN    WHITE. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  VETERAN  RESERVE  CORPS — UNWILLINGNESS  TO  SERVE  IN 
IT — FORTY  DAYS  IN  THE  GUARD-HOUSE — CLIFBURN  BAR 
RACKS — EXPOSURE  —  AN  OLD  SOLDIER'S  STORY  —  SUNDRY 
DUTIES— CHRISTMAS — THE  SURPRISE  —  PROFESSOR  HOLDEN 
—  A  BEREAVED  MOTHER  —  VISIT  TO  THE  ARMY  —  FIELD 
HOSPITALS — STEVENSBURG — MRS.  MAYHEW — CHAPEL  SER 
VICE — RETURN  TO  WASHINGTON. 

IN  the  autumn  of  1863  the  Veteran  Eeserye  Corps 
was  organized,  and  all  soldiers  whom  examining 
boards  pronounced  unfit  for  field  service,  but  able  to 
do  "light  duty,"  were  transferred  to  one  of  the  three 
battalions  into  which  it  was  divided.  Prior  to  being 
assigned  to  either  of  these  battalions,  they  were  quar 
tered  at  Clifburn  Barracks.  In  this  camp  there  was 
much  suffering  from  exposure  and  neglect.  Nights 
were  cold,  barracks  uncomfortable,  bunks  with  no  bed 
ding,  .except  the  soldier's  blanket.  Many  a  poor  fel 
low  lost  his  life  in  consequence  of  exposure  during  his 
stay  at  Clifburn.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  the  trans 
fer  to  this  organization  was  made  against  the  soldier's 
wishes,  who,  if  able  to  do  duty,  preferred  to  be  sent  to 
his  regiment.  But  a  soldier's  duty  is  to  obey  orders, 
irrespective  of  his  wishes.  I  recall  several  instances 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  141 

in  which  soldiers  were  severely  punished  for  refusing 
to  serve  in  the  "  Invalid  Corps,"  as  it  was  called.     I 
will  mention  one.     A  soldier  -was  kept  in  the  guard 
house  forty  days,  court-martialed  three  times,  and  he 
still  refused  to  put  on  the    "Invalid"  jacket.     An 
appeal  in  his  behalf  was  finally  made  to  the  War  De 
partment,    when   the  Secretary   ordered    his   release. 
He  had  always  been  a  good  soldier,  never  refusing  to 
do  duty  in  the  field,  and  he  insisted,  as  he  could  no 
longer  serve  his  country  there,  he  should  receive  his 
discharge.      I  knew  others  who  would  refuse  to  be 
transferred,  but,  after  lying  in  the  guard-house  a  few 
days,  would  submit.     One,  who  had  been  a  good  sol 
dier  in  the  field,  seemed  to  consider  it  a  disgrace  to 
serve  where  there  was  no  danger,  or,  if  not  a  disgrace, 
there  was  at  least  no  honor  attached  to  the  service. 

The  hospital  connected  with  this  camp  was  never 
as  well  supplied  as  those  -in  the  city.  Disease  in 
almost  every  form  found  its  way  thither — fevers, 
pneumonia,  rheumatism,  that  insidious  disease — con 
sumption,  and  even  small-pox.  Upon  one  of  my  next 
visits  to  this  hospital,  I  found  a  young  man  of  the 
Seventh  Michigan,  who  was  a  great  sufferer  from 
inflammatory  rheumatism.  He  was  extremely  anx 
ious  to  go  home,  and  requested  me  to  see  the  surgeon 
in  regard  to  his  discharge.  On  inquiry  I  found  that 
his  papers  would  be  ready  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to 


142  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

travel.  He  was  removed  to  Mr.  Clark's — formerly  of 
Ann  Arbor,  at  that  time  residing  near  the  hospital — 
where,  with  the  most  tender  nursing,  he  so  far  recov 
ered  as  to  be  able  to  go  home  in  a  few  weeks.  He 
continued  to  improve  for  a  short  time  after  reaching 
home,  but  was  suddenly  taken  worse  and  died ;  and 
another  victim  was  added  to  the  many  occasioned  by 
neglect  and  exposure  while  at  Clif  burn. 

It  may  be  asked  whose  business  it  was  to  care  for 
these.  I  answer,  the  Sanitary  Commission.  After 
the  Government  had  provided  barracks  and  blankets, 
it  was  the  place  of  this  great  organization  to  begin 
where  the  Government  left  off,  and  to  have  made 
those  convalescents  comfortable.  Thousands  of  dol 
lars  were  almost  daily  being  poured  into  its  coffers 
by  patriotic,  self-sacrificing  friends  in  the  North,  and 
in  three  days'  time,  and  even  less,  after  those  barracks 
were  occupied,  they  should  have  been  supplied  with 
plenty  of  good,  warm  bedding ;  and  vegetables,  in 
large  quantities,  should  have  been  daily  issued. 
Many  valuable  lives  would  thus  have  been  saved 
to  gladden  homes  now  lonely  and  desolate.  Let 
honor  be  given  where  honor  is  due.  This  commis 
sion  did,  as  it  ought  with  the  means  at  its  disposal, 
a  world  of  good ;  but  there  was  at  times  bad  manage 
ment  somewhere,  and  an  injudicious  use  of  its  funds, 
for,  while  its  supplies  were  wasting  and  rotting  in 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  143 

store-houses,  soldiers  were  suffering  and  dying  for 
want  of  them.  It  may  be  argued  that  this  could  not 
have  been  avoided,  there  sometimes  being  a  scarcity 
of  help ;  but  that  could  easily  have  been  remedied,  as 
hundreds — yea,  thousands — stood  ready  to  "volun 
teer"  their  services — all  they  wanted  was  the  privi 
lege  of  working  for  soldiers.  Or  these  wasting  goods 
might  have  been  given  to  other  societies,  which  would 
have  gladly  received  them,  and  with  willing  hands 
prepared  and  distributed  them  to  those  for  whom 
they  were  designed. 

****** 

As  I  was  leaving  camp,  after  the  visit  to  which  I 
have  referred,  I  was  met  by  a  soldier  who  wished  me 
to  ascertain  whether  his  discharge-papers  had  been 
forwarded  to  the  office  of  the  Medical  Director. 

I  returned  to  the  office  and  made  inquiry  concern 
ing  them,  and  learned  that  they  were  to  be  forwarded 
that  afternoon.  Notifying  the  soldier,  I  again  started 
for  home,  but,  before  passing  the  limits  of  the  camp, 
I  was  hailed  by  an  old  man  with  silver  locks  and 
bent  form,  who  wished  to  know  if  I  could  do  any 
thing  for  him.  "  If  so,  for  God's  sake,"  he  said,  "  ren 
der  me  some  assistance."  I  listened  to  his  story, 
which  was  indeed  a  sad  one.  It  was  as  follows  : 

When  the  war  broke  out,  he  was  the  owner  of  a 
handsome  property  in  Missouri.  Ho  \vns  driven  from 


144  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

his  home  by  rebel  hordes,  his  buildings  were  burned, 
and  all  personal  property  either  destroyed  or  confis 
cated.  He  came  North,  when  himself  and  three  sons 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army.  His  sons  had  all  been 
killed  —  the  last  one,  a  little  drummer-boy,  only  a 
few  days  before — and  himself  nothing  but  a  wreck. 
He  had  served  nearly  three  years  in  the  ranks  as  a 
private  soldier,  and  now  asked  to  be  discharged  from 
the  service.  "You  have  made  a  great  sacrifice,"  I 
said.  "  Yes ;  but  we  did  it  cheerfully.  The  country 
is  worth  it  all,  and  a  thousand  times  more,"  he  answer 
ed.  "  If  I  could  do  any  good  by  staying  longer,  I 
would  not  ask  to  go  home ;  but,  you  see,  I'm  of  no 
account  now,"  holding  up  his  thin,  emaciated  hands. 
"The  boys  were  fine  lads;  but  they're  gone,  and  I 
shall  soon  follow."  I  was  moved  to  tears  by  his  piti 
ful  story,  and  again  retraced  my  steps  to  the  office, 
briefly  related  the  old  soldier's  statement,  and  re 
quested  that  he  might  have  an  early  examination,  and 
obtained  a  promise  that  he  should.  The  poor  old 
man,  on  hearing  this,  was  too  grateful  to  express  his 
thanks ;  he  could  only  say,  ''  God  bless  you !  God 
bless  you,  my  child  ! "  His  discharge  at  length  came. 
He  called  to  bid  me  "good-by,"  before  leaving  the 
city  ;  but  whether  he  now  lives  to  enjoy  the  blessings 
for  which  he  fought,  or  has  gone  to  meet  his  sons  on 
the  further  shore,  I  cannot  tell. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  145 

Once  again  T  endeavored  to  make  my  exit  from 
camp,  but  was  met  by  two  more  requesting  a  similar 
favor;  but,  not  daring  to  trespass  upon  the  doctor's 
good-nature  any  more  that  day,  I  told  them  they 
would  have  to  wait  until  I  came  again,  and  so  made 
my  escape. 

Not  long  after  this  I  spent  nearly  half  a  day  in 
running  about  trying  to  get  transportation  for  a 
soldier  of  the  Nineteenth  Maine,  who  had  obtained 
a  furlough.  How  glad  I  was  when  I  saw  the  poor  old 
man  on  his  way  to  the  depot,  and  how  richly  paid  I 
felt  for  my  trouble,  when  he  turned  and  said,  as  I 
parted  with  him,  "  Good-by,  God  bless  you ;  Pll  tell 
my  wife  I  shouldn't  have  got  home  these  two  days 
if  you  hadn't  helped  me."  Then,  with  what  an  elastic 
step  he  hurried  on,  lest  the  train  should  leave  him, 
forgetting  that  he  was  weak  and  feeble.  It  will  be 
seen  from  these  few  incidents  that  our  duties  did  not 
consist  altogether  in  preparing  and  distributing  sup 
plies.  In  fact,  that  was  but  a  small  part  of  our  work 
—there  were,  at  almost  every  visit,  so  many  errands 
to  do,  questions  to  answer,  and  messages  to  deliver, 
that  they  greatly  increased  our  labors,  but  these  were 
only  parts  of  the  great  whole. 

The  24th  inst.  Mrs.  B.  and  I  spent  the  entire  day  in 
cooking,  as  we  wished  to  surprise  the  boys  at  Clif- 
burn  by  giving  them  a  little  something  extra  for  din- 


146  THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

ner  the  next  day  ;  all  the  hospitals  in  the  city  were  to 
have  a  "Christmas  dinner,"  and  we  feared  this  would 
be  wholly  overlooked.  Our  fears  proved  true,  as  far  as 
those  not  in  the  immediate  hospital  department  were 
concerned. 

Christmas  came,  bringing  chilly  winds  and  biting 
frosts ;  but  before  noon  we  were  on  our  way  to  Clif- 
burn  with  well-filled  baskets,  accompanied  by  a 
couple  of  soldiers  who  volunteered  their  assistance. 
Arriving  in  camp,  it  was  heart-sickening  to  see  those 
who  had  left  homes  of  plenty,  crowding  around  us, 
and,  like  children,  begging  for  a  piece  of  "  Christmas 
pie !  "  The  remembrance  would  not  be  so  sad  could 
all  have  been  served,  but  there  were  hundreds  who 
received  nothing;  and,  when  all  was  given  out,  they 
fell  back  a  few  paces,  and  gave  three  rousing  cheers 
for  the  Michigan  ladies,  those  who  received  nothing 
cheering  with  the  rest.  Oh,  could  these  have  shared 
the  bountiful  Christmas  dinners  at  home,  how  many 
hearts  would  have  been  gladdened  and  made  happy ! 
As  we  were  ready  to  start  upon  our  mission  that 
morning,  we  were  met  at  the  door  by  Mr.  Moses,  who 
surprised  us,  Mrs.  B.  and  myself,  with  a  present  of 
forty  dollars  each,  in  behalf  of  Michigan  gentlemen 
residing  in  Washington.  The  gift  was  truly  ap 
preciated. 

The   28th   of  the   month,    Mrs.   Brainard   left   for 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  147 

Michigan,  and  did  not  return  until  about  the  1st  of 
April ;  so  I  was  again  left  alone,  with  the  work  that 
both  had  been  doing  devolving  upon  mek 

Supplies  continued  to  reach  us  —  many  through 
the  personal  efforts  of  Mrs.  Brainard.  I  also  received 
a  nice  barrel  of  goods  from  Brighton,  Mich.,  and 
another  from  Harbor  Creek,  Penn.,  also  ten  dollars 
in  money.  The  last  day  of  the  month,  I  was  happily 
surprised  by  receiving  a  call  from  Professor  Holden, 
formerly  of  Kalamazoo  College.  He  found  me  busy 
at  work  preparing  articles  for  distribution.  After 
asking  many  questions,  and  inquiring  into  the  nature 
of  my  work,  and  how  long  I  had  been  engaged  in  it, 
he  said :  "  We  didn't  know  what  we  were  preparing 
you  for,  when  you  were  with  us  at  Kalamazoo.  We 
never  dreamed  that  you  would  so  soon  engage  in  a 
work  like  this."  His  heart  was  in  full  sympathy 
with  the  good  cause,  and,  when  about  to  leave,  he 
placed  a  five-dollar  bill  in  my  hand,  saying,  as  he  did 
so,  "  I  will  add  so  much  to  your  Christmas  present." 
If,  as  he  turned  away,  he  was  five  dollars  poorer  in 
purse,  he  was  much  more  than  that  richer  in  bless 
ings. 

One  afternoon,  as  I  was  returning  from  Alexandria, 
I  met  a  lady  on  the  boat,  whom  a  few  hours  before 
I  had  seen  in  a  hospital  anxiously  inquiring  for  her 
son.  She  was  sitting  alone  in  one  corner  of  the 


148  THE    BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

cabin,  rocking  to  and  fro,  wringing  her  hands  and 
sobbing  aloud,  apparently  oblivious  to  all  around  her. 
I  at  once  divined  the  cause  of  her  sorrow,  which  her 
own  words  confirmed — she  was  too  late !  They  were 
just  closing  his  coffin  when  she  found  him.  It  seemed 
as  though  her  poor  agonized  heart  must  break.  He 
was  her  only  son,  his  term  of  enlistment  had  nearly 
expired,  and  she  was  joyfully  anticipating  his  speedy 
return  home,  when  the  dreadful  tidings  reached  her 
that  he  was  mortally  wounded — accidentally  shot  by 
a  comrade.  The  first  train  that  left  after  she  re 
ceived  this  sad  message  was  bearing  her  away  from 
her  Eastern  home  to  the  coffin-side  of  her  dead.  The 
hope  of  receiving  from  his  own  lips  his  last  words 
and  dying  blessing  had  buoyed  her  up  during  that 
sad  journey;  but  this  last  hope  having  been  taken 
from  her,  she  was  overwhelmed  with  grief.  No  words 
of  mine  could  afford  her  consolation.  Like  Rachel 
of  old,  she  refused  to  be  comforted.  "  My  poor  boy ! 
oh,  my  poor  boy  ! "  she  continued  to  repeat  amid  tears 
and  sobs,  until  we  parted  at  Washington. 

The  14th  of  January,  I  went  to  the  army  with  sup 
plies  for  our  sick  in  field  hospitals.  Arriving  at 
"  Brandy  Station " — some  seventy  miles  from  Wash 
ington — I  was  set  out  in  the  mud  with  my  goods, 
no  one  to  meet  me  as  I  expected ;  cold,  gray  clouds 
were  hanging  overhead,  and  a  chilly  wind  whistling 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  149 

among  the  tents.  Here,  for  the  first  time,  I  experi 
enced  the  great  difficulty  there  was  in  finding  any 
particular  regiment  in  the  army.  Each,  seemed  like 
a  little  isolated  town,  so  wholly  absorbed  with  its  own 
cares  and  duties  that  frequently  the  nearest  encamp 
ment  was  neither  known  by  name  or  number — recog 
nized  only  in  the  broad  sense  of  "  Uncle  Sam's  boys." 
Yet  there  was  a  common  interest  and  sympathy  ex 
isting  among  all  who  wore  the  army  blue ;  no  matter 
what  part  of  the  Union  they  hailed  from,  they  were 
all  enlisted  in  the  same  cause,  fighting  beneath  the 
same  flag,  and  for  the  same  grand  result 

Having  my  goods  removed  to  a  little  rise  of  ground 
where  the  mud  was  not  quite  so  deep,  I  climbed  its 
slippery  side  and  took  my  post  as  guard ;  but,  in  spite 
of  my  vigilance,  a  firkin  of  butter  was  carried  off, 
though  I  recovered  it  —  taken  through  mistake  of 
course  ( ! ! ) 

On  inquiry,  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  no  one 
there  even  knew  that  there  was  such  a  regiment  in 
the  army  as  the  Twenty-sixth  Michigan  —  neither 
could  they  tell .  me  anything  about  General  Ouster's 
Cavalry  Brigade.  I  next  inquired  for  the  First  Divi 
sion,  Second  Corps — to  which  the  Twenty-sixth  be 
longed.  "About  four  miles  from  here,"  was  the  re 
ply.  It  was  getting  late;  there  was  no  possible 
chance  that  I  could  see  to  obtain  accommodations  at 


150  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

the  station  over  night.  The  roads  were  almost  im 
passable,  and,  as  yet,  I  had  no  conveyance  and  no 
prospect  of  procuring  one  before  the  next  day.  My 
first  thought  was  to  store  my  goods  and  start  on  foot, 
but  I  was  dissuaded  from  this  course  by  the  boys  de 
claring  that  I  could  never  get  through  if  I  started ; 
and  I  afterwards  learned  how  utterly  impossible  would 
have  been  the  undertaking.  But  what  was  to  be 
done  ?  Everything  looked  discouraging,  and  I  almost 
felt  like  giving  up  in  despair.  I  resolved,  however,  to 
make  one  more  effort  to  get  some  sort  of  a  convey 
ance,  and  again  inquired  if  there  were  not  a  Second 
Corps  ambulance  still  at  the  station  ?  I  had  asked  the 
same  gentleman  several  times  before,  and  every  time 
received  a  negative  reply — a  positive  "  no."  But,  not 
knowing  what  else  to  do,  I  kept  repeating  my  ques 
tion,  and  this  time  a  doubtful  answer  was  given  by 
one  who  really  seemed  to  pity  me  in  my  deplorable 
condition  ;  and  the  very  doubt  expressed  in  his  reply, 
"  I  think  not — however,  I'll  go  and  see,"  kindled  a 
new  hope  in  my  heart.  In  a  moment  he  disappeared 
behind  boxes  of  "  hard  tack,7'  bales  of  hay  and  sacks 
of  grain,  while  I  remained  in  statu  quo,  being  for  once 
the  central  object  of  attraction.  This  soldier  was  soon 
the  bearer  of  good  news :  the  only  ambulance  remain 
ing  would  leave  in  a  few  moments.  The  driver  soon 
made  his  appearance,  who  kindly  offered  to  take  me 


THE  BOYS   IN    WHITE.  151 

to  the  Twenty-sixth,  as  his  regiment— the  Eighty-first 
Pennsylvania — was  brigaded  with  the  same  and  en 
camped  near  it.  What  goods  I  could  not  take  with 
me  were  stored  with  the  Provost  Marshal  until  the 
next  day.  Those  four  miles  through  deep  mud,  over 
corduroy  roads  and  across  bridgeless  streams  are  at 
length  made  in  safety,  and  the  driver  returns  to  his 
quarters  rich  in  the  possession  of  a  few  pounds  of 
sweet,  yellow  butter,  while  I  am  heartily  greeted  and 
cheerfully  welcomed  to  the  cabin  homes  of  the  Twen 
ty-sixth.  Many  regrets  are  expressed  that  my  letter 
had  not  been  received,  in  consequence  of  which  no 
one  knew  of  my  arrival  at  the  station.  But  that  tedi 
ous  waiting  in  wind  and  mud  is  soon  forgotten,  for 
familiar  faces,  pleasant  smiles,  and  cordial  greetings 
are  met  on  every  hand. 

I  could  hardly  realize  that  this  was  the  same  regi 
ment  that,  nine  months  before,  we  bade  adieu  as  it 
left  the  shores  of  Alexandria  for  the  seat  of  war. 
To  some  of  their  number,  alas !  it  proved  a  long 
farewell,  for  they  were  left  sleeping  their  last  sleep 
on  the  bank  of  the  James.  After  resting  a  little 
and  partaking  of  a  warm  supper,  which  was  prepared 
with  neatness  and  dispatch,  I  paid  a  visit  to  the 
hospital,  which  reminded  me  of  the  home  of  the 
pioneer.  It  consisted  of  a  low,  one  story  log  cabin, 
with  two  rude  chimneys  and  a  ruder  floor.  On 


152  THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

either  side  of  the  room  was  a  row  of  cots,  wliicli 
consisted  of  pine  boughs  and  a  blanket  laid  across 
poles  elevated  a  little  from  the  floor,  with  another 
blanket,  or  perhaps  two,  for  covering — sheets  and 
pillows  they  had  none.  These  were  occupied  by 
the  sick. 

As  I  passed  through  the  hospital,  stopping  a  few 
moments  at  the  bedside  of  each  patient,  and  telling 
them  I  had  come  with  sanitary  stores  which  had  been 
sent  by  friends  at  home  expressly  for  them,  their 
countenances  brightened,  while  some  declared  that 
they  felt  a  hundred  per  cent,  better  for  knowing 
they  were  thus  kindly  remembered. 

Upon  a  calm,  still  day,  with  two  blazing,  crackling 
fires,  the  hospital,  though  rude,  presented  a  pleasant, 
cheerful  aspect;  but,  upon  a  damp,  windy  day,  this 
cheerful  aspect  was  driven  away  by  dense  volumes  of 
smoke,  which  would  come  pouring  down  the  chim 
neys,  making  it  almost  impossible  to  remain  inside; 
yet  all  seemed  to  think  it  was  the  best  that  could  be 
provided  for  them  under  the,  circumstances,  and  un 
complainingly  submitted  to  their  hard  lot.  There 
was  considerable  sickness  in  the  regiment  at  this 
time,  one  great  cause  of  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  was 
the  location  of  the  camp — it  being  low  and  wet,  and, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  was  poorly  policed.  Death  was 
not  an  unfrequent  visitor.  Some  three  or  four,  in(  as 


THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE.  153 

many  days,  had  obeyed  his  stern  mandate  and  gone 
— ah  1  whither  ? 

"  Ask  not— the  lonely  hearthstone  tells 

Too  plain  the  mournful  story: 
Gone,  in  their  beauty  and  their  pride, 
To  swell  the  ranks  of  glory." 

At  my  next  visit,  a  few  weeks  later,  I  was  able  to 
report  a  great  change  for  the  better.  In  the  absence 
of  superior  officers,  Major  Saviers — a  man  possessing 
rare  executive  ability — was  in  command.  The  camp 
ground  had  been  drained,  sidewalks  of  split  wood 
built,  the  streets  bordered  with  evergreens,  and  many 
other  improvements  made. 

Leaving  these  poor  sick  men  cheered  with  the 
promise  that,  as  soon  as  my  goods  arrived,  they 
should  be  made  more  comfortable,  I  was  given  carte 
blanche  possession  of  a  little  cabin,  which  I  found 
"  swept  and  garnished  "  after  the  most  approved  style 
of  the  soldier.  A  bright  fire  was  blazing  on  the 
hearth,  a  narrow  cot — similar  to  those  in  the  hospi 
tal — stood  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  a  rude  table  in 
another,  and  a  camp-chair  in  the  third.  These,  with 
a  couple  of  shelves  on  one  side  of  the  cabin,  contain 
ing  sundry  culinary  articles  together  with  the  accou 
trements  of  war,  constituted  the  owner's  household 
goods.  Being  quite  weary  I  retired  early,  yet  I  can- 


154  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

not  say  that  I  felt  much  rested  next  morning ;  but  I 
wondered  all  the  more  how  those  poor  sick  men  could 
lie  upon  such  beds. 

As  soon  as  my  goods  arrived  I  furnished  the  hos 
pital  beds  with  sheets  and  pillows,  the  patients  with 
clean  handkerchiefs  and  a  few  dressing-gowns,  besides 
dried  fruit,  jellies,  wine,  and  butter,  also  papers  and 
magazines.  I  found  several  sick  in  their  quarters 
which  the  hospital  could  not  accommodate;  these  I 
visited  and  supplied  with  such  things  as  they  were 
mostly  needing.  Never  was  anything,  I  am  sure,  re 
ceived  with  more  gratitude  than  were  those  few  sup 
plies  which  it  was  my  pleasure  to  distribute. 

This  regiment,  unlike  many,  was  blessed  with  a 
kind  and  faithful  surgeon,  and  a  chaplain  worthy  of 
the  name.  My  next  visit  was  to  the  Fifth  and  Sixth 
Cavalry;  but  there  was  far  less  sickness  in  these 
regiments  than  when  I  visited  them  at  Fairfax,  not 
withstanding  their  increased  hardships  and  exposures, 
their  frequent  raids,  skirmishes,  and  battles.  But 
many,  for  whom  this  toughening  process  was  too  se 
vere,  had  fallen  out  by  the  way,  and  were  left  to 
sleep  in  unmarked  yet  honored  graves.  At  the  little 
broken,  dilapidated  town  of  Stevensburg,  where  fences 
and  "hoops"  were  unknown,  and  sallow  faces  gave 
evidence  of  the  "dip" — where  chimneys  were  lean 
ing  from  perpendicular  as  if  contemplating  a  change 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  155 

of  base,  and  where  windows  could  boast  of  more  rags 
than  panes  of  glass — was  our  Cavalry  Brigade  Hos 
pital  ;  but  it  contained  comparatively  few  sick.  Good 
nursing  and  proper  food,  no  doubt,  would  have  saved 
any  who  were  in  the  hospital  at  that  time.  The  beds 
were  much  better  than  those  in  infantry  hospitals. 
Each  cot  was  furnished  with  a  tick  filled  with  hay, 
which  was  obtained  by  cutting  the  horses'  rations  a 
little  short ;  but,  in  other  respects,  they  were  about 
on  a  par  with  field  hospitals  generally.  Here  I  dis 
posed  of  the  remainder  of  my  goods,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th,  left  the  sick,  with  a  promise  to 
come  again  soon,  with  a  larger  supply  of  sanitary 
stores.  Arriving  at  Brandy  Station,  I  found  the  train 
had  left,  and,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  I  appealed  to 
the  Provost  Marshal,  from  whom,  to  my  great  relief, 
I  learned  that  Mrs.  Mayhew — an  agent  for  the  Maine 
Association — had  her  head-quarters  in  an  old  building 
not  far  away.  The  house  was  pointed  out,  and,  in  a 
few  minutes  more,  I  was  the  welcome  guest  of  this 
excellent  lady  and  her  friend,  Mrs.  Painter,  of  New 
Jersey.  It  being  the  Lord's  day,  we  attended  service 
at  the  0.  C.  chapel.  That  was  a  day  long  to  be 
remembered.  How  solemn  the  service!  And  what 
a  good  class — or  speaking-meeting — followed !  What 
a  beautiful  sight  to  see  those  brawny,  stalwart  sol 
diers  stand  up  for  Jesus  1  Early  Monday  morning 


156  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

I  assisted  in  feeding  a  train  of  sick  who  were  on 
their  way  from  Culpepper  to  Washington.  These 
ladies  held  themselves  in  readiness  to  start  with 
broth,  crackers,  tea  and  coffee,  as  soon  as  a  train 
of  the  sick  or  wounded  arrived.  Who  can  estimate 
the  good  thus  accomplished  by  those  two  earnest, 
Christian  women? 

At  ten  o'clock  the  same  morning,  I  started  for 
Washington,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Mayhew.  When 
in  the  vicinity  of  Union  Mills  —  some  twenty -five 
miles  from  the  city — a  collision  occurred  a  few  miles 
ahead  of  us,  in  consequence  of  which  we  were  delayed 
twelve  hours.  The  day  was  gloomy,  cold,  and  rainy ; 
our  car  leaked  badly.  We  were  without  food,  nothing 
to  read,  and,  in  fact,  nothing  to  do  but  to  sit  still  and 
wait,  and  hope  every  moment  that  the  train  would 
start.  We  were  wholly  unprepared  for  such  an  emer 
gency.  Those  twelve  hours  seemed  lengthened  into 
as  many  days,  and  not  until  two  A.  M.  were  we  safely 
quartered  in  my  own  room,  cold,  hungry,  and  drench 
ing  wet  Next  day  we  both  began  to  experience  the 
effects  of  a  severe  cold,  which  for  some  time  seriously 
threatened  us,  but  we  managed  to  keep  at  work. 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  157 


CHAPTER  XL 


ANOTHER  VISIT  TO  THE  ARMY  —  INCIDENTS  —  POTTY  MOUNTAIN- 
PICKET  LINE  —  THE  MOVE  —  RETURN  TO  WASHINGTON — 
LONG  BRIDGE— CAPTAIN  MASON— REMARKS  ABOUT  HOSPITAL 
DUTIES — ARLINGTON — THE  SOLDIERS'  HOME. 

THE  21st  ult.,  through  the  kindness  of  Colonel 
Alger  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry,  I  obtained  another  pass 
to  go  to  the  army,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th, 
again  started  with  a  fine  lot  of  hospital  stores.  At 
the  station  I  met  Dr.  Beach,  who  was  returning  to  his 
regiment  The  day  was  warm  and  pleasant,  and  in 
stead  of  a  long,  lonely  ride,  the  journey  is  too  soon 
made.  How  desolate  the  country  through  which  we 
pass!  Marks  of  destruction,  which  ever  follow  the 
train  of  war,  are  everywhere  visible.  The  earth  is 
furrowed  and  ridged  with  long  lines  of  rifle-pits,  re 
doubts  and  redans.  Breastworks  and  formidable 
abattis  are  seen  at  various  places  along  the  line  of  the 
road  Occasionally  a  tall  chimney  is  seen  standing 
like  some  lone  sentinel,  telling  in  language  plainer 
than  words  of  "glory  departed."  Every  few  miles 
we  are  reminded  of  the  dangers  to  which  we  are  ex- 


158  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

posed  by  broken  cars,  iron  rails  bent  and  twisted  and 
strewn  along  the  side  of  the  track,  causing  us  almost 
to  expect  to  leave  one  or  more  of  our  cars,  if  not  our 
bones,  with  the  wreck  of  others,  before  arriving  at  our 
place  of  destination.  We  pass  some  places  of  little 
note  before  the  war,  but  by  it  rendered  not  only  his 
torical,  but  memorable.  Such  are  Manassas,  Catlett's, 
Bristow,  and  Eappahannock  Stations  and  Warrenton 
Junction.  At  or  near  each  of  these,  battles  have  been 
fought,  and  the  earth  drenched  with  human  gore.  No 
waiting  this  time  at  the  station ;  General  Custar's  car 
riage — a  confiscated  barouche — is  there  before  us. 
Nearly  dark  when  we  arrive  at  camp.  Soldiers  are 
never  at  a  loss  for  expedients,  and  soon  the  dispensary 
is  converted  into  a  temporaryd  welling-house,  which, 
with  a  bright  fire  blazing  on  the  hearth,  made  my 
little  home  look  cozy  and  inviting. 

Again,  as  at  my  former  visit,  the  work  of  unpack 
ing,  assorting,  and  distributing  to  different  hospitals 
and  those  sick  in  their  quarters  had  to  be  gone 
through  with.  Most  of  the  sick  who  were  in  these 
hospitals  upon  my  former  visit  had  been  sent  away, 
but  they  were  filled  with  others  quite  as  needy. 

The  afternoon  of  the  29th  I  rode  out  with  Sergeant 
Summerville  to  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Mich 
igan,  to  learn  the  condition  of  the  sick  and  what 
they  were  most  needing.  The  regiment  was  en- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  159 

camped  in  a  beautiful  place  about  a  mile  and  a  hall' 
from  the  once  pleasant  little  village  of  Culpepper. 
The  hospital  I  found  entirely  empty.  A  few  had 
been  sent  to  the  division  hospital  at  Culpepper,  but 
none  were  dangerously  ill.  From  both  surgeon  and 
chaplain  I  learned  that  the  health  of  the  regiment  was 
never  better,  and  that  whatever  stores  I  had  designed 
for  them  had  better  be  given  to  those  more  needy. 
Here  for  the  first  time  I  had  the  pleasure  <5f  meeting 
that  excellent  lady,  Mrs.  Chaplain  Way.  Who 
knows  how  far  her  kind  care  and  advice  and  influ 
ence  went  toward  not  only  restoring  the  sick  to 
health,  but  preventing  sickness?  As  the  day  was 
far  spent,  and  having  about  nine  miles  to  ride,  we 
made  only  a  short  stay,  and  then  headed  our  horses 
for  "home." 

After  passing  through  Culpepper,  we  struck  across 
lots  for  Pony  Mountain.*  We  were  not  troubled  with 
fences,  but  found  plenty  of  mud  and  ditches  to  be 
gotten  over  and  through  as  best  we  could.  On  our 
way  to  the  Twenty -fourth,  we  rode  over  Pony  Moun 
tain,  instead  of  taking  a  circuit  around  it.  It  was 
decidedly  romantic  climbing  the  steep  ascent,  clamb 
ering  over  rocks  and  urging  our  way  through  tho 
thick  bushes,  which  at  times  almost  impeded  our 
progress.  On  the  top  of  the  mountain  was  a  signal 
station.  Here  we  dismounted  to  rest  our  horse;;, 


1GO  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

while  we  took  a  good  view  of  the  surrounding  coun 
try.  The  landscape  before  us  was  picturesque  and 
grand.  The  vast  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  en 
camped  about  us ;  white  tents  clustered  in  every  val 
ley  and  covered  every  hill-side.  At  our  left  lay  the 
village  of  Culpepper ;  the  Blue  Eidge  with  its  snowy 
peaks  loomed  up  in  the  distance ;  while  a  little  to 
the  southward,  just  across  the  Eapidan,  was  the  ene 
my's  country,  with  its  long  lines  of  fortifications 
crowned  with  frowning,  glistening  guns.  At  the  sta 
tion,  the  signal  officer  was  making  various  evolutions 
and  movements  with  his  little  black  and  white  flag, 
conveying,  perhaps,  important  messages  to  the  com 
manding  general. 

Eemounting  our  steeds,  we  slowly  proceed  down 
the  steep  declivity  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  moun 
tain,  and  hurry  on.  We  had  gone  but  a  short  dis 
tance  when  we  came  to  a  large  three-story  brick 
house,  where,  Mr.  S.  told  me,  the  rebel  sharpshooters 
were  once  concealed  to  pick  off  our  men  as  they  pur 
sued  the  flying  foe  from  Culpepper.  A  battery  was 
opened  upon  the  building,  and  soon  "  Johnny  reb  " 
was  glad  to  evacuate  his  stronghold  and  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.  The  family,  in  their  frenzy,  rushed  into  the 
cellar  for  safety ;  but  there  is  little  safety  in  the  face 
of  an  open  battery.  A  large  ball,  striking  the  wall 
near  the  ground,  knocked  in  the  bricks,  hurling  them 


THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE.  161 

in  confusion  across  the  cellar,  killing  an  old  man  and 
a  little  child.  The  whole  building — roof,  wall,  and 
windows — showed  the  folly  of  hoping  for  safety 
within 

The  next  morning  I  was  invited  by  Dr.  Beach  to 
take  a  ride  along  our  picket-line.  As  my  pass  had 
not  yet  expired,  and  being  naturally  a  little  fond  of 
adventure,  the  temptation  was  too  great,  and,  in  spite 
of  the  dark,  lowering  clouds,  the  slow,  drizzling  rain, 
and  the  prospect  of  a  stormy  day,  we  mounted  our 
steeds  and  galloped  away.  Our  infantry  pickets  are 
soon  passed,  and,  as  we  approach  the  Eapidan,  we 
descend  the  bank,  and  ride  for  some  distance  along 
the  flat,  only  a  few  rods  from  the  river.  At  our  right, 
across  the  river,  are  the  rebel  pickets  ;  at  our  left,  our 
own.  These  are  the  outposts  of  the  two  armies,  each 
mounted,  and  vigilantly  watching  the  movements  of 
the  other.  About  noon  we  called  at  a  small  wood- 
colored  house  to  rest.  In  this  small  building  the 
women  and  children  representing  three  different  fami 
lies  were  living.  One  of  the  ladies  was  a  widow. 
The  husbands  of  the  other  two  were  in  the  rebel 
army.  They  received  us  cordially — they  dare  not  do 
otherwise  even  had  they  felt  disposed  to,  being  at 
the  mercy  of  our  army,  and  subsisting  wholly  upon 
it.  Dinner  being  ready  we  gladly  accepted  an  invi 
tation  to  share  their  frugal  meal,  which  consisted  of 


162  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

pork  and  beans,  corn-bread,  and  rice.  After  dinner 
we  rode  over  to  Germania  Ford  and  called  on  anoth 
er  secession  family.  Here  we  found  a  woman  and 
two  or  three  little  children  living  alone.  The  lady's 
husband  had  been  in  the  rebel  army,  but  was  then 
a  prisoner,  confined  in  the  old  Capitol,  at  Washing 
ton.  She  claimed  to  be  a  relative  of  the  rebel 
General  Ashly.  She  was  none  of  the  "poor  white 
trash  "  of  the  South,  and,  though  then  very  destitute, 
she  had  seen  better  days.  The  children,  ashamed 
of  their  rags,  ran  and  hid  themselves  behind  the 
house,  and  could  not  be  induced  to  come  in,  though 
the  mother  urged  the  little  girl  to  come  and  play 
for  us  on  the  piano.  The  lady  played  and  sang 
several  beautiful  songs.  She  was  greatly  pleased 
that  we  had  called.  She  urged  me  to  stay  until  the 
next  day,  and  tried  to  exact  a  promise  that  I  would 
be  sure  and  come  again.  "  Oh ! "  she  said,  "  I  am 
so  lonely  !  I  Jaave  not  seen  a  lady  before  in  months." 
She  was  hemmed  in  between  the  two  picket-lines, 
and  could  make  her  escape  in  neither  direction. 
Though  still  a  rebel,  she  deemed  their  cause  hope 
less,  and  earnestly  wished  for  a  speedy  return  of 
peace.  % 

The  Twenty-Sixth  was  the  last  regiment  visited 
this  time.  My  stay  there,  though  short,  was  rendered 
exceedingly  pleasant,  as  Mrs.  Dr.  Kaymond  and  the 


THE   BOYS   IN    WHITE.  163 

wife  of  Commissary  Patterson  were  spending  a  little 
time  in  camp  with  their  husbands.  About  four 
o'clock,  the  morning  of  the  3d  (I  believe)  of  March, 
an  order  for  "three  days'  rations  in  haversacks  "  was 
issued,  and  at  early  dawn,  each  company,  fully  armed 
and  equipped,  with  "  drums  beating  and  colors  Hy 
ing,"  slowly  filed  out  of  camp,  knowing  not  whither 
they  went — expecting,  however,  to  cross  the  Eapi* 
dan  and  engage  the  enemy.  But  fortune  favored 
them;  for,  while  others  crossed,  met  the  enemy, 
fought  and  fell,  they  were  all  permitted  to  return  in 
safety.  Many  a  sad  "good-by"  was  spoken  that 
morning,  and  many  a  "  God  bless  you ! "  went  with 
those  brave  fellows,  while,  with  a  prayer  in  our 
hearts,  we  commended  them  to  the  keeping  of  Him 
who  holds  the  destiny  not  only  of  nations  but  of 
individuals  in  his  hands.  At  eight  o'clock  the  same 
morning  I  left  for  Washington,  in  company  with 
Lieutenant  Grisson,  who  had  obtained  a  fifteen-day 
leave  of  absence.  On  our  way  to  Brandy  Station 
we  met  the  artillery-trains  and  long  lines  of  in 
fantry  moving  toward  the  scene  of  conflict.  When 
within  a  mile  of  the  station  our  ambulance  broke 
down,  which  we  left  sunk  in  the  mud  nearly  to 
the  axles,  and  started  on  foot;  but,  while  trying 
to  pick  our  way  so  as  to  avoid  the  deepest  mud  and 
water,  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  locomotive  is  heard, 


161  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

and  the  train  comes  rushing  on  from  Culpepper. 
We  are  admonished  that  there  is  no  time  to  lose, 
and,  increasing  our  speed  to  a  "double-quick,"  we 
stop  for  neither  mud  nor  water  until  we  are  safely 
seated  in  the  cars.  Then  the  beautiful  prospect  of 
riding  with  wet  feet  a  distance  of  seventy  miles,  in 
cident  to  all  the  delays  to  be  met  with  in  travel 
ling  over  a  military  road,  presents  itself — cheering,  to 
say  the  least,  and  an.  excellent  remedy  for  cold  and 
cough  (?) 

Upon  our  arrival  in  Alexandria,  we  learned  that 
there  had  been  an  accident  that  morning  on  the  Long 
Bridge,  damaging  it  so  much  that  the  trains  could  not 
pass  over.  The  particulars  of  the  accident  were  as 
follows: — The  draw  had  been  opened  for  a  boat  to 
pass,  and  was  not  yet  closed  when  the  train  approach 
ed.  The  danger  was  discovered  too  late.  With  all 
possible  speed  the  breaks  were  put  on  and  the  engine 
reversed ;  but,  being  a  down-hill  grade,  the  train  con 
tinued  to  move  from  its  own  weight  and  the  velocity 
which  it  had  already  acquired.  On  rushed  the  engine 
into  the  open  space  and  plunged  headlong  into  the 
river,  dragging  with  it  two  or  three  cars  freighted  with 
human  beings,  mostly  soldiers  returning  from  fur 
loughs.  Many  a  poor  fellow  found  a  watery  grave, 
while  others  died  soon  after  of  the  injuries  received. 

No  doubt  the  prayer  was  continually  being  offered 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  165 

by  friends  they  had  left  at  home,  that  God  would 
shield  them  and  cover  their  heads  in  the  day  of  battle, 
little  dreaming  that  the  grim  monster,  Death,  lurked 
by  the  wayside. 

Leaving  the  cars,  we  hurry  to  the  landing  and  take 
boat  to  Washington.  Sad,  pale  faces  and  stricken 
hearts  meet  us  at  every  turn.  Captain  Mason,  of 
the  Eighty-first  Pennsylvania,  is  among  the  passen 
gers.  He  is  on  his  way  to  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  his  wife,  having  received  a  tele 
gram  the  day  before  announcing  her  death. 

****** 

I  had  scarcely  reached  home  when  I  received  a  call 
from  Hon.  Mr.  Upton  and  wife,  of  Michigan,  Dr. 
Alvord  (our  Secretary)  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  of 
Pontiac— all  anxious  to  hear  from  the  front.  Five 
large  boxes  and  two  barrels  of  goods,  which  arrived  dur 
ing  my  absence,  must  be  unpacked  and  receipted  for, 
and  a  mail  of  thirteen  letters  promptly  answered. 
Hammer,  chisel  and  pen  are  called  in  requisition,  and 
keep  me  company  until  a  late  hour.  Dr.  Alvord  had 
succeeded,  after  repeated  and  most  persistent  efforts, 
in  getting  an  ambulance  detailed  for  me,  which  greatly 
facilitated  my  work.  I  could  accomplish  much  more, 
with  far  greater  ease,  than  when  I  had  to  trudge  on 
foot,  "  toting  "  a  loaded  basket.  To  one  unacquaint 
ed  with  hospital  work  and  experience,  it  might  seem 


166  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

an  easy  task  to  ride  to  a  hospital  some  fine  morning 
with  a  well -filled  ambulance,  distribute  its  contents, 
and  return,  load  up  and  repeat  the  same  again,  and 
even  again.  "Were  this  all,  it  would  have  been  com 
paratively  easy  and  pleasant ;  but  it  was  this  carried 
out  into  detail,  the  minutias,  that  made  the  work 
laborious.  In  a  former  chapter  I  referred  to  the  many 
errands  there  were  to  be  done,  Jiot  only  for  those 
among  whom  I  was  expected  more  especially  to  labor, 
but  for  others,  for  any  and  all,  who  appealed  for  aid. 
I  could  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  a  soldier's  wants. 

The  winter  of  1864,  during  Mrs.  Brainard's  absence, 
and  while  boarding  myself,  was  a  season  of  fatiguing 
labor,  from  early  dawn  until  late  at  night.  Eeturning 
to  my  room  after  a  busy  day's  work,  I  had  the  privi 
lege  of  getting  my  supper  or  going  without  it — and 
the  going  without  was  often  preferable.  Supper  dis 
posed  of,  the  next  thing  in  order  was  to  transfer  my 
new  list  of  names  to  the  register,  and  note  down  any 
removals  from  the  hospitals,  by  death  or  otherwise 
(I  here  refer  particularly  to  Michigan  men).  Then 
the  long  list  of  "wants,"  noted  down  during  the  day 
for  individual  cases  in  the  different  hospitals  visited, 
must  be  examined,  and  the  article  prepared  for  distri 
bution.  Then  the  mail,  which  night  was  sure  to 
bring,  must  be  examined — and  many  of  those  letters 
demanded  not  only  a  prompt  reply,  bat  often  brought 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  167 

additional  work.  Here  is  one  from  a  father,  contain 
ing  inquiries  concerning  his  son,  who,  the  last  time  he 
heard  from  him,  was  stationed  in  one  of  the  forts  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Potomac ;  but  for  several  weeks 
he  has  lost  all  trace  of  him,  and  requests  me  to  try 
and  find  him  and  deliver  the  enclosed  letter.  My 
visit  to  the  fort,  a  few  days  after,  was  unsuccessful ; 
the  boy  had  been  sent  to  the  army.  The  letter  is 
returned  to  the  father,  with  what  information  could 
be  gathered.  The  next  is  from  an  anxious  wife,  ear 
nestly  requesting  me  to  see  her  husband,  who  is  sick 
in  Washington ;  but  she  forgets  to  mention  his  regi 
ment,  or  the  hospital  he  is  in.  Another  is  from  a 
young  lady  wishing  to  obtain  a  situation  as  nurse, 
and  asks  my  advice  and  influence.  Here  is  one  from 
a  soldier  at  the  front  who  wishes  me  to  store  a  box 
and  valise  for  him  until  he  shall  call  for  them,  desig 
nating  the  place  where  they  may  be  found.  In  my 
search  for  these  I  was  successful,  as  may  be  seen  from 
an  extract  from  my  journal  of  February  23d,  1864, 
which  I  will  quote  : 

'•'  This  afternoon  I  have  been  in  search  of  a  box 
and  valise  belonging  to  a  soldier  of  the  Seventh  Michi 
gan  Cavalry,  which  he  left  at  a  private  house  when  he 
was  sent  from  dismounted  camp  to  his  regiment  sev 
eral  months  ago.  I  succeeded  at  length  in  finding 
them,  about  four  miles  from  here,  on  the  Alexandria 


168  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

road,  at  a  small  wood-colored  house,  with  high  rickety 
steps,  whose  occupants  evidently  belonged  to  that 
class  known  as  ( poor  white  trash ; '  but  they  were 
very  kind  and  obliging.  The  articles  had  been  care 
fully  stored,  and  were  readily  delivered  up  as  soon  as 
they  found  I  was  authorized  to  get  them." 

On  my  return  I  improved  the  opportunity  of  pay 
ing  a  short  visit  to  the  Arlington  House,  the  late  resi 
dence  of  the  rebel  general,  Eobert  E.  Lee,  as  I  had  a 
desire  to  see  where  dwelt  this  rebel  chieftain  in  the 
days  of  his  prosperity  and  loyalty.  But,  alas!  its 
glory  has  departed ;  it  is  now  occupied,  as  head-quar 
ters,  by  officers  who  have  command  of  the  forts  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Potomac.  As  the  building  stands 
on  an  eminence,  the  northern  verandah  commands  a 
fine  view  of  the  Potomac  and  the  city  beyond.  The 
Capitol,  in  all  its  beauty  and  grandeur,  looms  up 
before  the  beholder.  There  are  but  few  articles  of 
furniture  left  A  few  ancient  paintings,  said  to  have 
been  executed  by  some  member  of  the  Curtis  family, 
adorn  the  walls.  The  flower-garden,  the  large  grove 
of  stately  forest  trees — including  many  acres — with  its 
broad  carriage-ways  and  winding  paths,  remind  one 
of  Pilgrim's  enchanted  ground,  and  a  sweet  desire  to 
linger  among  so  many  natural  beauties  takes  posses 
sion  of  the  mind ;  but,  as  it  was  getting  late,  I  had 
only  time  to  make  a  flying  visit  to  the  place,  then 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  160 

jump  into  my  ambulance  and  be  off  for  home.  We 
are  soon  at  the  Long  Bridge.  The  draw  is  open.  A 
large  number  of  army  wagons  have  collected  on  either 
side  of  the  draw,  and,  while  waiting  for  it  to  be  closed, 
a  train  of  cars  approaches,  the  horses  become  fright 
ened,  when  suddenly  a  four-horse  team  leaps  over  the 
railing  and  plunges  into  the  river  beneath,  dragging 
wagon  and  all  after  them.  In  a  moment  the  waters 
close  over  them,  and  no  trace  of  horses  or  wagon  was 
afterward  seen.  Fortunately  the  driver  saved  himself 
by  jumping  from  the  wagon,  when  all  hope  of  saving 
his  team  had  fled. 


February  %5th. 

I  have  been  to  Douglas  and  Harewood  hospitals, 
accompanied  with  Mrs.  Tunnecliffe,  with  flannel  shirts, 
blackberry  sauce,  and  other  delicacies  for  the  sick. 
Nearly  all  the  Michigan  soldiers  at  Harewood  are 
convalescing.  Poor  Sergeant  Eooks  seems  to  be  the 
only  one  who  is  gradually  failing.  I  fear  his  stay  on 
earth  is  short. 

Before  returning  to  the  city,  I  drove  out  to  the 
"  Soldiers'  Home,"  near  which  thousands  of  the  "  boys 
in  white"  lie  buried,  and  their  number  is  daily 
increasing.  The  representatives  of  many  a  broken 
home  circle  slumbers  there. 


170  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

Sigh  not,  ye  winds,  as  passing  o'er 

The  chambers  of  the  dead  ye  fly ; 

Weep  not,  ye  dews, 

For  these  no  more  shall  ever  weep,  shall  ever  sigh. 

The  "Home"  was  not,  as  many  supposed,  purchased 
by  Government,  but  by  soldiers  of  the  regular  army. 
The  first  sum  appropriated  for  this  object,  $40,000, 
was  levied  on  the  city  of  Mexico  by  General  Scott. 
Here  the  aged  and  disabled  soldiers  of  the  regular 
army  find  a  home.  The  building  is  large,  beautiful, 
and  commodious.  We  were  conducted  through  it  by 
Sergeant  Charles  Bussel,  Company  F,  Fourth  U.  S. 
Artillery,  who  is  now  sixty-three  years  old.  He  was 
in  active  service  thirty-one  years — has  been  at  the 
"  Home  "  seven  years.  At  present  it  contains  ninety- 
six  inmates.  Everything  is  kept  in  the  most  perfect 
order,  and  moves  on  like  clock-work.  From  the 
tower  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  country  for  miles 
around.  Spread  out  before  us  was  the  city  of 
Washington,  with  its  teeming  multitudes  and  busy 
thoroughfares ;  its  numerous  spires  pointing  upward, 
whither  our  thoughts  should  oftener  turn ;  its  long 
rows  of  low  white -washed  buildings,  whose  mute 
walls,  could  they  speak,  would  tell  sad  tales  of  human 
woe.  Thither  have  been  brought  thousands  of  the 
suffering  "boys  in  blue,"  and  from  them  have  been 
removed  multitudes  of  lifeless  "  boys  in  white." 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  171 

A  little  to  the  westward  lay  Georgetown,  with  its 
narrow  streets  and  ivy-grown  walls.  A  few  miles 
down  the  river  Alexandria  could  be  seen.  In  the 
distance  was  Fairfax  Seminary,  and  across  the  river 
the  Arlington  House,  and  the  numerous  forts  which 
skirt  its  banks.  The  estate  contains  three  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  under  cultiva 
tion.  Evergreens,  shrubbery,  aud  flowers  surround 
the  "  Home ; "  gravel  walks  and  carriage-ways  lead  to 
and  from  it  in  different  directions.  But  amid  all  this 
beauty  a  solemn  stillness  reigns ;  here  the  voice  of 
childhood  is  never  heard,  or  woman's  face  ever  seen, 
except  as  an  occasional  visitor.  These,  it  would  seem, 
are  all  that  it  needs  to  make  it  an  earthly  paradise.* 

*  I  am  here  speaking  exclusively  of  the  "  Home,"  without 
reference  to  the  other  buildings  near,  viz. :  the  summer  residence 
of  the  president,  and  the  residence  of  the  governor  of  the  estate. 


172  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


FAIKFAX  COURT-HOUSE — SEARCH  FOR  A  SOLDIER'S  GRAVE — RE 
TURN  OF  THE  RICHMOND  RAIDEKS — THIRD  VISIT  TO  THE 
ARMY — ACCIDENT — FIELD  HOSPITALS — DEATH  OF  SOLDIEKS 

GKACE    GREENWOOD — LITTLE  ANNA — BATTLE    EXPECTED 

CAMP  RUMORS — A  SEVERE    STORM — THE    ONE    HUNDRED 

AND  EIGHTY-THIRD  PENNSYLVANIA  VOLUNTEERS — ARMY 
RE-ORGANIZED—GRANT  TAKES  COMMAND— REVIEW  OF  THE 
SECOND  CORPS — SOBER  REFLECTIONS. 

SATURDAY,  the  12th  of  March,  I  went  to  Fairfax 
Court-House  with  supplies  for  the  sick  at  that  place, 
having  heard  that  they  were  in  a  very  destitute  con 
dition.  There  were  there  no  Michigan  soldiers  at 
Fairfax  at  this  time,  but  as  our  motto  was  to  do  for 
all  as  we  had  opportunity,  it  was  thought  best  to 
ascertain  whether  these  reports  were  true,  and  if  so,  do 
what  we  could  to  better  their  condition.  At  Fairfax 
station,  I  visited  the  hospital  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-fifth  New  York  volunteers.  It  contained  but 
few  sick,  and  none  dangerously  ill.  At  the  Court- 
House,  there  were  two  hospitals,  viz. :  the  Seventeenth 
New  York  Battery,  and  the  Fourth  Delaware  volun 
teers.  But  finding  these,  contrary  to  expectation, 
very  comfortably  supplied,  I  left  only  part  of  my 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  173 

goods  and  returned  to  Washington  with  the  remain 
der.  While  at  Fairfax  I  shared  the  hospitality  of 
Mrs.  Anthony,  whose  husband  was  in  command  of 
the  battery  on  duty  at  that  place.  Sunday  morning 
I  visited  the  place  where  were  resting  many  of  the 
"  Boys  in  White."  As  I  stood  and  looked  upon 
those  lonely  graves,  memory  recalled  many  sad  expe 
riences  ;  for  the  very  spot  once  occupied  by  our  hos 
pitals,  in  which  I  had  watched  by  the  dying  couch 
of  many  a  soldier  who  was  now  sleeping  in  his  "  turf- 
bed"  at  my  feet,  was  only  a  short  distance  away. 
The  grave  of  Peter  Young,  who  died  the  morning  we 
evacuated  the  place  the  previous  June,  I  was  par 
ticularly  desirous  of  finding,  as  his  sister  was  extreme 
ly  anxious  to  come  on  for  his  body;  but  for  some 
time  after  our  troops  left  there  was  no  communication 
tion  with  the  place,  and  the  country  was  soon  infested 
with  roving  bands  of  guerrillas,  rendering  a  visit  to 
that  place  hazardous,  if  not  impossible.  Not  finding 
his  grave  here,  I  started  for  another  burying-ground 
nearly  half  a  mile  from  this ;  but  I  had  proceeded 
only  a  short  distance  when  I  came  upon  a  sentinel, 
who  refused  to  let  me  cross  his  beat,  as  I  was  with 
out  a  pass.  I  told  him  the  mission  upon  which  I 
was  going,  but,  like  a  good  soldier,  he  still  refused. 
It  being  too  late  to  return  to  head-quarters  for  a  pass 
— as  the  ambulance  was  already  waiting  which  was  to 


174  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

take  me  to  the  depot — I  was  compelled  to  abandon 
the  idea  of  further  search,  and  retraced  my  steps  with 
many  regrets  that  I  could  not  even  convey  to  the  sor 
rowing  friends  the  poor  consolation,  that  the  silent 
resting-place  of  their  dear  one  was  known  and  had 
been  visited.  While  at  Fairfax  there  was  considera 
ble  excitement  in  regard  to  Mosby's  guerrillas,  who 
were  reported  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Yienna.  The 
cavalry  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  them ;  but  every  at 
tempt  to  capture  them  was  eluded.  Before  I  left  for 
Washington  one  division  of  Kilpatrick's  Cavalry  pas 
sed  through  the  place,  having  just  returned  from  their 
Eichmond  raid,  and  were  on  their  way  to  their  old 
quarters  near  Stevensburg.  Both  horse  and  rider 
looked  worn  and  weary.  The  real  object  of  the  raid 
had  not  been  accomplished.  Eichmond  had  not  been 
taken,  and  our  starving  soldiers  were  not  released 
from  those  vile  prison-pens. 

Monday,  the  14th,  I  again  went  to  the  army  with 
supplies,  and  was  instructed  to  remain  until  further 
orders.  The  day  was  delightful,  the  air  cool  and 
balmy.  At  the  depot  I  fell  in  company  with  Mr.  Gr. 
A.  Willett  of  Ionia,  who  was  on  his  way  to  his  post  of 
duty  in  the  Second  Corps.  My  trips  to  the  army  never 
lost  their  novelty,  for  the  country  passed  through  con 
tained  so  much  of  deep  and  thrilling  interest, 
almost  every  station  on  the  route  having  been  the 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  175 

scene  of  bloody  conflicts,  and  nearly  every  object  that 
met  the  eye  was  associated  with  some  sad  tale.  When 
within  three  miles  of  Brandy  Station,  the  train  was 
thrown  from  the  track,  and  four  cars  were  completely 
demolished.  One  man  was  killed,  and  many  others 
seriously  injured.  Fortunately  the  car  we  occupied, 
though  thrown  from  the  track,  was  not  overturned, 
so  we  escaped  unhurt.  While  waiting  and  deliber 
ating  whether  to  start  on  foot,  we  were  surprised  by 
the  arrival  of  Lieutenant  Chase,  who  was  waiting  for 
me  at  the  station ;  but,  hearing  of  the  accident,  he  at 
once  hastened  to  the  scene  of  the  disaster,  and,  in  a 
few  moments,  we  were  on  our  way  to  the  camp  of  the 
Michigan  Twenty-sixth,  where  we  arrived  a  little  be 
fore  dark. 

I  took  possession  of  Dr.  Eaymond's  cabin — who  was 
absent  on  leave,  and,  upon  his  return,  took  quarters 
with  the  Adjutant- — which  Willie,  our  cook,  had  put 
in  the  best  house-keeping  order,  and  who,  during  my 
stay  of  six  weeks,  ever  seemed  to  consider  it  a  pleas 
ure  to  do  all  he  could  to  make  my  home  pleasant; 
always  taking  the  opportunity  when  I  was  absent  at 
other  hospitals  to  wash  my  cabin  floor,  and  to  be  sure 
and  have  a  bright  fire  blazing  on  the  hearth  upon  my 
return.  Dear  Willie !  long  ere  the  dawn  of  peace,  he 
went  to  join  the  army  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 
Among  the  thousands  buried  at  Arlington  may  be 


176  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

seen  upon  one  of  the  little  head  boards  the  name  of 
"William  Brokaw,  Company  I,  Twenty -sixth  Mich 
igan  Volunteers." 

"  Sweet  be  the  death  of  those 

Who  for  their  country  die  ; 
Sleep  on  her  bosom  for  repose, 
And  triumph  where  they  lie." 

My  home  being  with  the  Twenty-sixth,  of  course  a 
larger  share  of  my  time  was  spent  with  this  hospital 
than  any  other;  yet  I  made  occasional  visits  to  the 
Third,  Fifth,  and  Seventh  cavalry  regiments.  The 
First,  Fourth,  and  Sixteenth  infantry  regiments  I  was 
not  able  to  visit  at  all.  The  general  health  of  the 
army  at  this  time  was  considered  good,  though  in  the 
aggregate  there  were  many  sick.  It  was  impossible 
to  keep  a  correct  record  of  the  sick  in  all  the  hospitals, 
on  account  of  the  changes  which  were  constantly 
being  made. 

One  class  of  patients  would  be  brought  in,  remain 
a  few  days,  and  then  sent  off  to  division  or  some  gen 
eral  hospital,  and  their  places  filled  by  others. 

I  seldom  visited  a  hospital  without  missing  some 
familiar  face  and  greeting  strange  ones.  The  long 
distance  from  one  regiment  to  another — being  from 
one  to  eight  miles  —  with  roads  much  of  the  time 
almost  impassable,  made  it  extremely  difficult  to  visit 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  177 

the  same  hospital  very  often.  Eain,  and  consequently 
mud,  we  had  in  no  stinted  measure.  Sometimes  the 
rain  would  continue  to  fall  for  three  or  four  days  in 
succession,  and  was  usually  accompanied  with  a  cold 
high  wind,  and  not  unfrequently  with  snow. 

The  29th  of  March,  during  one  of  the  severest 
storms  of  the  season,  the  One  Hundred  Eighty- 
third  Pa,  volunteers  went  into  camp  a  short  distance 
from  us.  This  was  a  new  regiment,  wholly  unaccus 
tomed  to  the  hardships  of  camp  life.  All  day  long 
they  were  exposed  to  a  cold,  drenching  rain,  with 
nothing  to  protect  them  but  their  little  shelter 
tents. 

Night  came  on ;  the  storm  continued  ;*  the  wind, 
which  had  blown  a  perfect  gale  all  day,  still  whis 
tled  through  their  open  tents  ;  and  thus,  without  fire, 
and  with  saturated  clothing,  they  spent  the  night  in 
the  pitiless  storm.  As  many  as  could  be  accommo 
dated  came  into  our  hospital  and  cook-room,  grateful 
for  the  privilege  of  sleeping  upon  the  floor  before  the 
fire.  For  twenty-four  hours  they  were  scarcely  able 
to  make  fire  sufficient  to  boil  their  coffee.  Many  a 
poor  fellow  lost  his  life  in  consequence  of  exposure 
to  this  merciless  storm. 

It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  soldiers  to  be 
brought  in  from  the  picket  line,  sick  even  unto  death ; 
but  this  was  a  duty  that  could  not  be  neglected,  no 


178  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

matter  what  the  weather,  for  ofttimes  the  safety  of  the 
whole  army  depended  upon  its  faithful  discharge. 

My  stay  with  the  army,  notwithstanding  the  many 
sad  scenes  so  often  witnessed  and  the  lonely  hours 
sometimes  experienced,  was  rather  pleasant  than 
otherwise.  Aside  from  the  satisfaction  there  is  in  try 
ing  to  do  good,  there  is  a  novelty  connected  with  such 
a  life  which  gives  to  it  many  attractions.  Soldiers 
are  always  full  of  fun  and  good-natured  jokes.  Ex 
citing  rumors,  sometimes  with,  but  oftener  without 
foundation,  are  constantly  afloat,  furnishing  subjects 
for  conversation.  Besides,  there  are  occasional  oppor 
tunities,  even  in  the  army,  for  intellectual  entertain 
ments.  One  such  was  enjoyed  by  the  Second  Corps 
soon  after  my  arrival.  We  were  favored  with  a  visit 
from  the  gifted  authoress  and  lecturer,  "  Grace  Green 
wood."  It  was  my  privilege  to  listen  to  two  of  the 
three  lectures  she  delivered  while  there.  These  lec 
tures  were  rare  treats;  they  were  like  oases  in  the 
desert.  During  her  stay,  she  favored  us  with  a  call, 
visited  our  hospital,  spoke  cheeringly  to  the  sick,  with 
whom  her  heart  was  in  full  sympathy.  She  also  ac 
cepted  an  invitation  to  dine  with  us.  She  was  ac 
companied  by  her  little  daughter  Anna  — a  sweet 
child  of  eight  years.  Ah !  methinks  many  a  father's 
heart  grew  sad  as  he  saw  this  little  girl  tripping  gaily 
through  camp,  or  as  he  listened  to  her  sweet  singing. 


THE   BOYS   TN   AVJTITE.  179 

She  must  have  reminded  him  of  the  dear  little  "  An 
nie,"  or  "Hattie,"  or  "Nellie,"  he  left  at  home,  and 
whom  he  might  never  again  see.  Perchance  some  sen 
tinel  on  his  beat  paused  to  wipe  the  unbidden  tear 
from  his  weather-beaten  cheek  as  she  crossed  his  path, 
being  reminded  of  his  own  precious  daughter,  the  pat 
ter  of  whose  feet  he  might  hear  no  more  forever! 

Quite  an  exciting  scene  occurred  one  afternoon,  oc 
casioned  by  one  of  the  many  rumors  constantly  afloat 
in  the  army.  All  was  usually  quiet,  no  apprehension 
of  immediate  danger  or  sign  of  "a  move,"  when  sud 
denly  we  were  startled  by  an  order  for  the  regiment 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  as  it  was 
reported  that  the  rebels  had  crossed  the  Eapidan, 
driven  in  our  pickets,  and  were  already  engaged  with 
the  cavalry.  Presently  the  order  to  "advance"  is 
received.  Then  comes  the  hasty  preparations ;  well- 
filled  cartridge-boxes  are  buckled  on,  muskets  shoul 
dered,  and  the  order,  "  fall  in,"  quietly  obeyed.  Very 
soon  they  are  all  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the 
ridge  of  a  high  hill  in  front  of  our  camp ;  batteries 
are  placed  in  position,  and  everything  in  readiness  to 
give  the  "  chivalry  "  a  cordial  greeting.  Things  really 
looked  like  a  fight;  but  before  sundown  all  were 
quietly  withdrawn  and  returned  to  their  old  quarters 
without  even  getting  a  sight  of  a  rebel.  As  they 
came  filing  into  camp,  some  felt  provoked,  and  all 


180  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

disappointed,  for  they  had  hoped  to  have  a  "  brush " 
• — as  they  called  it — with  the  enemy.  To  use  their 
own  words,  they  were  "  spoiling  for  a  fight."  The  in 
activity  of  camp  life  while  in  winter  quarters  was  one 
prolific  source  of  demoralization  in  the  army.  The 
true  cause  of  the  alarm  was  soon  ascertained.  A  few 
rebels  did  cross  the  river  and  drive  in  some  of  our 
pickets,  but  they  were  soon  driven  back  and  compel 
led  to  re-cross.  For  a  few  days  this  furnished  the 
topic  of  conversation,  and  then  something  new  came 
up;  and  when  nothing  new  happened,  the  "boys" 
would  improvise  something. 

Toward  the  last  of  March  I  expected  Mrs.  Thomp 
son,  formerly  of  Ionia,  Michigan,  to  make  me  a  visit 
and  bring  a  new  supply  of  hospital  stores.  But  I 
looked  in  vain.  The  goods  at  length  came,  but  she 
was  not  with  them,  as  she  could  not  obtain  a  pass.  I 
was  so  greatly  disappointed  that  for  a  while  time 
seemed  to  pass  more  slowly ;  my  evenings  were  un 
usually  lonely.  The  evening  tattoo  and  morning  re 
veille,  and  the  warriors'  calls  of  the  drum,  to  which  I 
had  ever  listened  with  pleasure,  now  seemed  only  to 
mock  my  loneliness.  I  tried  to  be  reconciled,  but 
never  could  fully.  I  was  obliged  to  adopt  the  lan 
guage  of  the  old  adage,  "  "What  can't  be  cured  must  be 
endured."  Toward  the  middle  of  April  I  began  tc 
feel  somewhat  anxious  to  return  to  Washington,  as  all 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  181 

non-combatants  were  ordered  to  leave  the  army. 
General  Grant  had  arrived  and  taken  command  in 
person,  and  the  work  of  re-organizing  commenced. 
The  sick  were  being  sent  away  as  fast  as  possible,  and 
everything  indicated  a  speedy  move.  However,  I  re 
mained  until  I  had  disposed  of  the  new  supply  of 
goods. 

The  review  of  the  Second  Corps  on  the  22d  of 
April,  by  General  Grant,  was  a  grand  sight.  It  was 
estimated  that  there  were  fifty  thousand  troops  on  re 
view  that  day.  Then,  in  addition  to  these,  were  the 
almost  endless  lines  of  ambulances  and  army  wagons, 
all  having  been  repaired  and  newly  painted;  every 
thing  was  in  readiness  for  the  opening  campaign.  To 
one  unaccustomed  to  seeing  large  armies,  it  would 
seem  that  this  corps  alone  was  sufficient  to  meet  and 
successfully  resist  whatever  force  could  be  brought  to 
oppose  it ;  and  yet  what  a  small  part  of  the  vast  army 
of  the  Union,  and  only  about  one-third  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Potomac ! 

Many  of  our  sick  I  afterward  found  scattered 
through  various  hospitals  in  different  cities.  Among 
these,  there  were  three  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  for  whom 
I  had  felt  the  deepest  interest  and  solicitude,  who  died 
after  arriving  in  Washington,  viz.,  Sergeant  Books, 
privates  Yan  Decar  and  Miller.  Each  left  a  family  to 
mourn  departed  hopes. 


182  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

The  morning  of  the  23d,  I  bade  "  good-by  "  to  the 
few  sick  left  in  the  hospital  and  returned  to  Washing 
ton.  The  day  was  warm  and  pleasant;  yet  my  heart 
was  sad,  for  it  took  no  great  stretch  of  the  imagination 
to  look  forward  into  the  midst  of  the  terrible  conflict 
about  to  begin,  and  to  see  many  of  the  brave  and  the 
noble  fall ;  to  see  the  wounded  and  slain  by  thous 
ands,  scattered  far  and  near,  with  the  advancing  and 
retreating  armies  marching  and  counter-marching  over 
their  mangled  bodies,  the  bones  of  multitudes  being 
left  to  bleach  upon  the  plain  and  the  earth  made  red 
with  human  gore.  Then  the  thought  of  the  bitter 
grief  and  unavailing  tear  which  would  so  soon  succeed 
the  long  suspense  and  anxious  fears  which  filled  every 
home,  if  not  every  heart,  in  our  land,  left  little  room 
for  other  than  sad  reflections.  But  every  picture, 
however  dark,  has  its  bright  side,  and  so  had  this 
fearful  one.  The  hope  of  victory  illumined  its  dark 
background.  It  was  this  that  buckled  on  the  armor 
and  nerved  every  heart  for  the  contest. 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  183 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


HOSPITAL  WORK  IN  WASHINGTON  AND  ALEXANDRIA — NEW  ARRI 
VALS  OF  THE  SICK — NINTH  CORPS — BATTLES  OF  THE  WIL 
DERNESS — THE  WOUNDED  ARRIVE — EN  ROUTE  FOR  FRED- 
ERICKSBURG — FIRST  NIGHT  IN  THE  "BLOODY  CITY" — OUR 
QUARTERS  —  HOSPITAL  VISITS  AND  HOSPITAL  WORK  —  DIS 
TRIBUTING  SUPPLIES— DISTRESSING  SIGHTS — SAD  INCIDENTS. 

I  AKKIVED  in  Washington  without  accident  this 
time,  though  the  rebels  had  become  very  bold,  mak 
ing  frequent  raids  upon  the  road,  tearing  up  the  track, 
capturing  the  guard,  and  doing  all  sorts  of  mischief. 
Immediately  upon  arriving  in  Washington,  I  expected 
to  start  for  Michigan  on  a  short  visit;  but,  as  the 
army  was  on  the  eve  of  a  move,  I  yielded  to  the 
urgent  request  of  the  officers  of  our  Association,  to 
remain  until  the  close  of  the  opening  campaign,  and 
resumed  my  work  of  visiting  hospitals,  in  connection 
with  Mrs.  Brainard,  who  had  returned  from  her  visit 
home  three  months  before.  We  found  plenty  to  do, 
as  our  hospitals  were  being  filled  with  the  sick  daily 
arriving  from  the  army.  Many  were  left  from  the 
Ninth  Corps,  which  passed  through  the  city  on  tho 
25th  instant,  on  their  way  to  rejoin  the  Army  of  the 


184  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

Potomac,  having  been  recalled  from  the  Western  de 
partment,  where  they  were  sent  one  year  before.  The 
corps,  at  this  time,  numbered  about  thirty  thousand. 
They  were  over  three  hours  in  passing  a  given  point. 
Poor  fellows,  how  worn  and  weary  they  looked  ! 
There  was  the  Eighth  Michigan,  to  which  a  dear 
brother  once  belonged.  How  eagerly  I  watched  for 
Company  K !  But,  oh  !  a  tall,  manly  form  was  miss 
ing.  No  familiar  face  met  my  eye,  no  well-known 
voice  greeted  me ;  but  while  his  comrades  were  march 
ing  on  to  victory  and  to  death,  he  lay  calmly  sleeping 
a  few  miles  distant.  No  more  fatiguing  marches,  no 
more  sleepless  nights,  no  more  suffering,  no  more 
hunger  or  thirst  or  weariness  for  thee,  brother;  thy 
last  march  is  ended,  the  last  battle  fought,  and  the 
victory  won.  Sleep  peacefully,  brother,  until  the 
archangel's  trumpet  shall  bid  thee  arise. 

The  26th  of  the  month  I  went  to  Alexandria,  and 
remained  three  days,  visiting  and  distributing  to  the 
sick  and  wounded  in  those  hospitals.  While  there.  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  for  the  first  time,  General 
Burn  side  —  that  noble,  generous  officer,  who  always 
did  the  best  he  could,  if  not  always  the  most  success 
ful  He  was  then,  and  still  is,  loved  for  his  honesty 
of  heart  and  integrity  of  purpose. 

Two  days  more,  which  were  spent  in  Washington- 
one  in  visiting  hospitals,  the  other  in  packing  goods 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  185 

to  take  to  the  front  and  attending  to  home  duties — 
brings  me  down  to  the  first  of  May. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  early  in  .this  month, 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  struck  tents,  buckled  on 
their  armor,  and,  at  the  command  of  their  gallant 
leader,  "  whose  name  was  a  tower  of  strength,"  moved 
on  with  their  faces  "wilderness-ward,"  to  scenes  of 
fierce  strife,  carnage,  and  death.  Soon  a  series  of 
battles  commenced,  which  scarcely  ended  until  the 
fall  of  Kichmond.  It  was  a  truthful  saying,  that  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  was  the  bloody  initiation  of 
of  the  great  campaign  which  was  to  terminate  the 
war.  The  8th  of  the  month  several  hundred  of  the 
more  slightly  wounded  arrived.  They  had  a  serious 
time  in  making  their  way  from  the  battlefield  to  the 
Rappahannock — a  distance  of  nearly  thirty  miles — 
no  transportation  being  furnished  them,  as  all  the 
ambulances  were  employed  in  removing  the  more 
severely  wounded.  On  their  way  they  were  attacked 
by  guerrillas,  but  finally  succeeded  in  making  their 
escape,  after  killing  several,  without  losing  any  of 
their  own  number.  Those  who  were  unarmed  fought 
with  broken  muskets,  clubs,  and  whatever  else  they 
could  lay  hands  on. 

As  reports  of  the  fighting  continued  to  reach  us, 
and  none  of  the  more  serious  cases  arrived,  we  ap 
plied  for  passes  to  go  to  Fredericksburg — that  being 


186  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

the  new  base  of  supplies  for  the  army,  and  whither 
thousands  of  the  wounded  were  removed  from  the 
battlefield — which  we  finally  obtained  through  our 
State  Agent,  Dr.  Tunnecliffe,  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  10th.  Early  next  morning,  Mrs.  Johnson,  Mrs. 
Brainard,  and  myself,  in  company  with  other  volun 
teer  laborers,  went  to  the  wharf  with  our  goods,  that 
we  might  be  in  readiness  to  take  the  first  boat  that 
should  leave  for  Belle  Plain. 

While  waiting,  three  boats  filled  with  the  wounded 
arrived.  They  were  crowded,  from  the  upper-deck 
to  the  hold,  with  scarcely  room  to  pass  between  those 
mangled  forms,  who  were  suffering  not  only  from 
wounds,  but  famishing  with  hunger.  Their  hunger, 
however,  was  soon  relieved,  for  a  large  number  of 
delegates  of  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions 
were  present,  with  plenty  of  hot  coffee,  milk-punch, 
lemonade,  crackers,  and  the  like,  which  were  dis 
tributed  with  a  liberal  hand  to  all.  As  fast  as  pos 
sible  they  were  removed  to  hospitals,  where  they 
could  be  better  cared  for.  About  four  o'clock  p.  M., 
we  went  on  board  the  steamer  Wenonah.  Before 
leaving  the  wharf  a  letter  was  handed  me,  dated, 
11  Chancellorsville,  May  7th,  1864."  I  will  quote  a 
single  paragraph :  "  The  Twenty-Sixth  are  all  right, 
but  the  Fifth  are  badly  cut  up ;  Major  Mathews  re 
ported  mortally  wounded."  Oh!  how  such  reports 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  187 

increased  our  impatience,  and  lengthened  the  wait 
ing  moments  into  hours,  and  the  hours  into  days, 
But  at  length  we  leave  the  shores  of  Washington. 
Every  heart  beats  high  with  the  hope  that  the  morn 
ing  will  find  us  among  the  wounded  at  Belle  Plain. 
But  we  had  proceeded  only  a  few  miles  when  a  col 
lision  occurred,  injuring  our  boat  slightly,  yet  suffi 
cient  to  cause  her  to  anchor  off  Alexandria  for  the 
night 

May  12&,  1864. 

At  six  o'clock  this  morning,  the  "Wenonah,  richly 
laden  with  hospital-stores  and  volunteer  laborers,  left 
Alexandria  and  steamed  down  the  Potomac.  Fort 
Washington  is  soon  passed,  Mount  Yernon  left  in 
the  distance,  and  other  places  of  less  importance  ap 
pear  and  recede  from  view. 

As  we  near  our  place  of  destination,  cannonading 
is  heard,  rapid  and  heavy.  A  terrible  battle  is 
raging.  Oh !  how  we  long  for  "  the  wings  of  the 
morning,"  that  we  may  fly  to  the  relief  of  the  wound 
ed;  but  our  anxiety  does  not  accelerate  our  speed. 
About  one  o'clock  we  anchor  a  short  distance  from 
Belle  Plain,  where  we  remain  until  nearly  dark,  when 
we  are  all  taken  on  board  the  Young  America* 
and  carried  over  to  the  landing;  but  we  cannot  go 
ashore,  as  we  would  be  entirely  without  shelter  for 


188  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

the  night,  and  the  rain,  which,  has  been  falling  all 
the  afternoon,  still  continues. 


Before  leaving  the  Wenonah,  it  was  suggested  by 
some  one  that  we  have  a  prayer-meeting,  and  that  those 
wishing  to  attend  would  assemble  in  the  cabin,  which 
in  a  few  moments  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity 
with  delegates  from  both  the  Sanitary  and  Christian 
Commissions,  the  ladies  on  board,  and  officers  and  sol 
diers.  Among  the  number  present  were  many  emi 
nent  Christian  men  and  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the 
names  of  a  few  of  whom  I  obtained,  viz. :  Drs.  Smith, 
Castle,  Porter,  McLaughlin,  of  Philadelphia,  Dr.  Hew 
lett,  of  Washington,  and  Dr.  Dobbins,  of  Trenton, 
New  Jersey.  Among  the  ladies  present  was  one 
whose  name  has  become  a  household  word  in  thou 
sands  of  homes  throughout  our  land,  because  of  her 
untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 
I  refer  to  Miss  Clara  Barton,  of  -  — ,  Massachusetts. 
The  meeting  was  a  most  solemn  and  impressive  one. 
The  afternoon  was  dark  and  gloomy,  the  sky  overcast 
with  clouds,  and  the  rain  falling ;  while  ever  and  anon 
our  ears  were  saluted  with  the  boom  of  the  cannon, 
which  plainly  indicated  that  the  conflict  was  still  rag 
ing,  and  every  moment  new  names  were  added  to  the 
long  list  of  sufferers.  The  solemnity  of  the  occasion, 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  189 

and  the  deep  impressions  then  made,  must — it  seems 
to  me — follow  each  of  us  through  life. 

Nine  o'clock  next  morning  we  were  taken  into  a 
barge  and  carried  ashore.  The  wounded  were  arriv 
ing  by  hundreds,  and  I  may  say  thousands,  to  await 
transportation  to  Washington.  The  two  great  Com 
missions  and  a  few  State  Eeliefs  were  there  with 
abundant  supplies  of  food ;  so  all  hands  went  to  work 
feeding  those  .poor,  suffering,  half-starved  soldiers  with 
crackers,  hot  coffee,  and  light  bread — which  we  cut 
into  slices  and  spread  with  apple-butter.  Thus  we 
worked  on,  wading  through  mud  to  the  top  of  our 
boots  until  noon,  when,  in  company  with  Mrs.  John 
son,  I  started  with  part  of  our  goods  for  Fredericks- 
burg — transportation  being  furnished  us  through  the 
kindness  of  Lieutenant  Chase,  of  the  Ambulance 
Corps.  The  mud  was  deep  and  the  roads  badly  cut 
up ;  but  fortunately  we  did  not  share  the  fate  of  some 
of  the  wounded,  whose  ambulances  were  overturned 
on  their  way  to  Belle  Plain.  It  was  after  dark  when 
we  reached  the  Rappahannock,  which  we  crossed  on 
pontoons,  and  nearly  eight  o'clock  when  we  arrived  at 
the  head-quarters  of  the  Christian  Commission  in  the 
"bloody  city"  of  Fredericksburg.  On  our  way  we 
met  several  thousand  prisoners  captured  by  the  Sec 
ond  Corps  the  day  previous.  Among  these  were 
Generals  Edward  Johnson  and  Georcrc  H.  Stewart. 


190  THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

It  was  said  that  General  Johnson  was  so  affected  as  to 
shed  tears  when  General  Hancock  extended  to  him 
his  hand  after  he  was  taken,  declaring  that  he  pre 
ferred  death  to  captivity.  But  the  other,  with  an  air 
of  haughtiness,  replied :  "  I  am  General  Stewart,  of  the 
Confederate  army,  and  under  present  circumstances  I 
decline  to  take  your  hand."  General  Hancock's  dig 
nified  reply  was :  "  And  under  any  other  circum 
stances,  General,  I  should  not  have  offered  it." 

We,  with  three  other  ladies  who  were  on  a  similar 
mission,  found  quarters  for  the  night  in  the  parlor  of 
the  worthy  (?)  ex-Mayor  Slaughter's  fine  residence, 
upon  whose  carpet  we  had  the  honor  of  sleeping ! ! 
Being  very  tired,  we  slept  soundly,  in  spite  of  our  hard 
bed.  Part  of  the  building  was  used  for  a  hospital. 
Mrs.  Slaughter  was  still  there,  but  her  husband,  not 
caring  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  "  hated  Yankees," 
had  left  for  parts  unknown. 

I  will  again  add  a  few  extracts  from  my  journal 

May  10th. 

Early  this  morning  the  Provost  Marshal  obtained 
for  us  a  house  to  which  our  goods  were  soon  removed, 
after  which  we  were  ready  for  duty.  The  building 
had  once  been  a  store ;  the  counter  and  shelves  being 
left,  we  occupy  them  with  goods.  The  family  in  an 
adjoining  room  consists  of  an  old  lady  and  one  dangh- 


TUB   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  191 

ter,  who,  of  course,  claim  to  be  loyal.  However, 
they  are  very  kind,  and  gave  us  a  large  upper  room 
with  good  beds,  and  otherwise  comfortably  furnished 
for  a  sleeping  apartment.  No  one  could  listen  to 
their  story  without  feelings  of  pity.  They  have  suf 
fered  much  during  the  war,  being  obliged  to  share 
their  hospitality  with  both  friend  and  foe,  exposed  to 
dangers  from  the  missiles  of  destruction  and  death 
which  have  made  such  wide-spread  desolation,  and  left 
in  ruins  this  once  beautiful  city.  Their  own  building, 
and  even  the  room  in  which  I  write,  bears  testimony 
to  the  terrible  effects  of  shell  and  ball. 

A  stove  was  furnished  us  in  the  morning,  the 
" boys"  supplied  us  with  wood,  and  we  went  to  work 
with  a  right  good  will,  Mrs.  Johnson  to  cooking,  and 
I  to  visiting  hospitals  and  distributing  as  fast  as  she 
could  cook. 

Such  scenes  of  wretchedness  and  of  terrible  suf 
fering  I  have  never  before  witnessed.  I  found  the 
wounded  lying  upon  the  hard  floor  without  pil 
lows,  and  many  without  a  blanket,  so  closely  crowded 
together  that  there  was  scarcely  room  to  pass  between 
them.  Officers  and  soldiers  are  lying  side  by  side. 
There,  if  never  before,  they  are  all  on  a  common 
level.  To  the  untold  suffering  experienced  from 
broken  bones  and  shattered  limbs,  is  added  that  of 
hunger,  many  having  eaten  nothing  fur  three  and  four 


192  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

days  previous  to  their  arrival  here ;  and  thus  they  are 
dying  not  only  of  wounds,  but  of  starvation. 

In  the  six  hospitals  to-day  visited,  I  found  many 
Michigan  soldiers,  and  among  these  are  several  of  the 
Twenty-Sixth  volunteers,  from  whom,  only  a  few 
weeks  since,  I  parted  at  Stevensburg,  when  imagina 
tion  was  so  busy  picturing  these  horrid  scenes. 
Among  this  number  is  Colonel  Saviers,  wounded  in 
the  lungs ;  Captain  Johnson  with  a  foot  amputated ; 
Lieutenants  Grisson  and  Dopson  severely,  though  less 
seriously  wounded;  Mr.  Waters  with  amputated  thigh, 
and  many  others  whose  names  I  do  not  recall.  The 
food  which  I  have  to-day  distributed  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  chicken-soup  and  crackers,  in  dealing  out 
which  I  made  no  distinction,  but  gave  to  all  as  far  as 
my  supplies  would  go. 

Early  this  evening  I  went  out  again  in  company 
with  Mrs.  Johnson,  and  remained  until  twelve  o'clock, 
dressing  wounds  and  doing  what  I  could  to  relieve 
the  suffering  of  our  poor  boys.  Among  the  many 
incidents  to-day  observed  worthy  of  note,  I  will  men 
tion  but  two.  While  distributing  my  crackers  and 
soup  to  the  inmates  of  a  large  church,  where  there  are 
perhaps  a  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  poor  suf 
ferers  lying  side  by  side  upon  the  floor,  nearly  all 
seriously  and  many  mortally  wounded,  my  ears  were 
saluted  with  the  voice  of  song,  and,  looking  around  to 


THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE.  193 

see  from  whom  it  came,  I  saw  a  poor  fellow  with  a 
severe  wound  in  both  arms,  whom  some  one  had 
raised  up  from  his  hard  bed.  He  was  sitting  on  the 
floor  and  leaning  against  the  wall,  singing  as  cheer 
fully,  and  apparently  as  joyously  as  if  he  were  seated 
at  the  social  hearth  with  his  own  dear  family.  It  was 
a  scene  which  brought  tears  to  my  eyes,  for  the  voice 
of  song  strangely  mingled  with  dying  groans,  and  I 
thought  that  one  who  could  shut  his  eyes  to  the  scenes 
of  distress  around  him,  and  so  far  forget  his  sufferings 
as  to  attune  his  heart  and  voice  to  singing,  must  in 
deed  have  experienced  the  blessedness  of  the  Chris 
tian's  hope.  In  this  hospital  is  another  with  eight 
wounds.  He  lies  on  a  stretcher  entirely  helpless. 
While  feeding  him  I  entered  into  conversation  with 
him,  when,  to  my  surprise,  I  found  that  he  entertained 
hopes  of  recovery — which  seems  to  me  would  be  al 
most  miraculous.*  The  rest  of  our  party  arrived  this 
afternoon  with  the  balance  of  our  goods. 

Sunday,  the  15th. 

Another  busy  day.  Ifc  has  seemed  but  little  like 
the  Sabbath.  After  taking  supplies  to  four  different 
hospitals,  and  distributing,  and  working  among  the 
wounded  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  I  came  home  and 

*  Some  two  years  ago,  to  my  great  astonishment,  I  met  this 
man,  who,  though  having  recovered,  is  badly  crippled  for  life. 


104  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

prepared  chicken-soup,  and  carried  to  Planter's  Hotel 
— assisted  by  Mr.  Green — sufficient  for  nearly  four 
hundred  men.  Michigan  soldiers  of  the  Ninth  Corps 
are  here  largely  represented.  Among  these  are  many 
seriously  wounded.  My  attention  was  particularly 
called  to  two  such  by  Chaplain  May — viz.,  Captain 
Donohue  of  the  Eighth  volunteers,  and  Lieutenant 
Joss,  of  the  Second,  each  with  an  amputated  thigh. 
But  little  hope  is  entertained  of  their  recovery.  I 
tried  to  speak  encouragingly  to  them,  having  been  re 
quested  to  do  so  by  the  surgeon,  Dr.  Fox;  yet  it 
seems  almost  wrong  to  endeavor  to  inspire  with  hope 
of  recovery  those  for  whom  nearly  all  hope  has  fled. 
Promising  to  see  them  often  and  do  all  I  could  for 
them,  I  left,  feeling  that  it  would  be  only  a  short  time 
that  they  would  need  anything,  except  the  soldier's 
blanket  and  a  few  feet  of  earth. 

In  this  hospital  I  found  several  wounded  in  the  face, 
among  whom  is  Sergeant  Clark,  also  of  the  Eighth. 
The  ball  lodged  somewhere  in  the  mouth,  and  has  not 
yet  been  found.  It  is  very  distressing  to  .see  him ;  his 
tongue  is  swollen  to  an  immoderate  size,  and  protrudes 
from  his  mouth.  He  is  unable  to  speak,  or  take  nour 
ishment,  except  liquids.  There  are  hundreds  of  cases, 
each  peculiarly  sad,  and  each  presenting  itself  as  an 
object  of  sympathy. 

Among  the  hospitals  I  have  visited  to-day,  is  the 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  195 

Old  Theatre,  where  I  saw  so  many  terribly  mangled 
bodies  last  evening.  I  took  a  quantity  of  pillows, 
chicken-soup,  and  crackers.  The  moment  I  entered 
the  hospital,  oh,  what  begging  for  pillows  came  from 
all  parts  of  the  room  I  "  Please,  give  me  a  pillow,  I'm 
wounded  in  the  head,  and  my  knapsack  is  so  hard," 
said  one.  Another  wants  one  for  the  stump  of  his 
arm  or  leg.  "  I  don't  think  it  would  be  so  painful  if 
I  only  had  a  pillow,  or  cushion,  or  something  to  keep 
it  from  the  hard  floor ;  there,  that  small  one  will  do 
for  me;  please  lady,  let  me  have  that."  "Oh,"  said 
another,  "  if  I  only  could  have  one  of  those  pillows  for 
my  back ;  it  is  all  raw  from  lying  on  the  hard  floor ; 
Oh !  can't  you  spare  me  one  ?  "  For  a  few  moments  I 
stood  with  the  pillows  in  my  arms,  unable  to  decide 
what  to  do.  I  could  not  supply  all,  and  to  whom 
should  I  give  ?  The  calls  did  not  cease  until  the  last 
one  was  given  out,  and  then  the  cry  was,  "  Can't  you 
bring  more  ?  "  Concluding  they  were  as  needy  as  any, 
I  came  home,  got  another  armful,  and  returned,  thus 
supplying  the  worst  cases  in  that  room.  While  there, 
an  incident  occurred,  to  which  I  can  never  refer  with 
out  weeping.  As  I  was  busy  dishing  out  my  broth, 
a  friend  of  mine,  Lieutenant  Grrisson,  who  was  himself 
wounded,  said:  "I  wish  you  would  see  if  you  can't 
do  something  for  that  captain  who  lies  the  third  from 
me ;  he  is  dreadfully  wounded."  On  going  to  him,  I 


196  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

inquired  if  there  was  anything  I  could  do  for  him,  and 
if  he  would  like  a  little  broth.  "  Just  a  little,  if  you 
please,"  he  said.  After  placing  a  pillow  under  his 
head,  and  another  under  his  back,  I  fed  him  as  much 
as  he  wished,  then  asked  what  more  I  could  do  for 
him?  He  looked  up  with  tearful  eyes,  and  said: 
"  Oh,  you  are  so  kind,  I  don't  know  what  to  call  you, 
unless  it  be  sister."  "Yery  well,"  I  replied,  "I'll  be 
your  sister;  but  tell  me,  Captain,  is  there  nothing- 
more  I  can  do  for  you  before  I  go."  "If  you  will 
please  write  a  few  lines  to  mother."  Taking  her  ad 
dress,  I  inquired  whether  there  was  anything  in  par 
ticular  he  wished  me  to  write.  I  shall  never  forget 
the  expression  of  his  countenance  as  he  looked  up  and 
said :  "  Oh  !  give  her  some  encouragement,  but  tell  her 
I'm  trusting  in  God."  He  hesitated  a  few  moments, 
and  then  added :  "It  will  be  so  hard  for  mother,  for 
she  is  a  widow,  and  I  am  her  only  son."  I  tried  to 
speak  a  few  words  of  comfort,  telling  him  that  if  his 
trust  was  in  God  all  would  be  well,  for  his  hopes  were 
anchored  upon  a  sure  foundation,  and  the  one  in 
whom  he  trusted  would  be  the  widow's  God.  In  a 
moment  the  thought  of  the  anguish  that  would  soon 
pierce  that  lone  widowed  mother's  heart,  rushed  upon 
my  mind,  and  poor,  weak  human  nature  was  over 
come,  and  I  could  only  bow  my  head  and  weep.  The 
poor  fellow  seemed  fully  conscious  of  the  fact  that  he 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  197 

must  die  ;  and  while  he  would  have  his  mother  know 
the  worst,  he  wished  the  sad  intelligence  to  be  gently 
broken.  The  language  of  his  heart  seemed  to  be, 
" Who  will  care  for  mother,  now?" 

*  •*  *  *  *  * 

After  giving  out  the  rest  of  my  supplies,  I  bade  the 
"boys"  good  -  evening,  with  a  promise  to  see  them 
again  soon,  and  left  this  wretched  hospital  only  to 
visit  another  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  bad.  This  was 
formerly  a  large  grocery-store,  only  a  short  distance 
from  our  quarters.  Mr.  Green  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
accompanied  me  to  this  abode  of  misery.  As  we 
entered  the  building,  oh,  what  a  sight  met  our  eyes ! , 
A  small  piece  of  candle  was  burning  upon  the  counter 
— it  being  about  nine  in  the  evening  —  which  but 
dimly  lighted  the  large  room,  making  the  bloody 
scene  before  us  all  the  more  horrifying.  There  lay 
the  wounded,  stretched  upon  the  floor  side  by  side,  in 
close  proximity,  weltering  in  blood  and  filth. 

They  were  faint  and  hungry,  some  having  only  a 
short  time  before  arrived  from  the  battle-field,  with 
wounds  still  undressed,  their  blankets  and  clothing 
saturated  with  blood,  and  not  unfrequently  covered 
with  vermin.  It  was  a  sight  well-calculated  to  appal 
the  stoutest  heart ;  but,  nerving  ourselves  for  the  task, 
we  went  to  work  feeding  those  poor  sufferers,  bathing 
anl  dress 'ng  their  wounds.  While  busy,  a  call  from 


198  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

behind  the  counter  attracted  my  attention,  and  on 
going  to  ascertain  who  was  there  I  found  two  soldiers, 
who  said  they  were  nearly  starved,  and  wished  to 
know  if  we  hadn't  something  for  them  too.  "  Cer 
tainly,"  I  replied,  and,  taking  a  large  cup,  I  filled  it 
with  hot  broth,  and  crept  along  on  my  hands  and 
knees  to  where  they  were  lying,  for  I  did  not  dare 
trust  myself  to  walk,  fearing  I  should  stumble  over 
them,  as  it  was  so  dark,  the  candle  having  been  re 
moved  to  another  part  of  the  room,  and  the  space 
between  them  and  the  counter  so  narrow. 

I  learned  that  one  of  them  belonged  to  the  Eighth 
Michigan.  When  I  told  him  that  I  too  was  from 
Michigan,  the  poor  boy  burst  into  tears  and  wept 
aloud.  "  Oh,'7  said  he,  "can't  you  get  me  out  of  this 
filthy  place?  for  it  seems  as  though  I  shall  be  eaten  up 
alive."  But,  as  every  spare  foot  of  space  was  occu 
pied,  we  were  obliged  to  leave  them  there  for  the 
night,  but  requested  the  nurse  to  remove  them  in 
the  morning,  even  if  they  had  to  be  taken  out  of 
doors.  I  came  home  late  in  the  evening,  weary  and 
foot- sore.  Since  then,  have  written  several  letters  for 
soldiers,  and  the  midnight  hour  finds  me  still  with 

pen  in  hand. 

x  •*  *  •*  #  # 

The  wounded  have  been  arriving  since  early  this 
morning ;  new  scenes  of  distress  await  us  on  the  mor- 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  199 

row.  "  As  we  look  around,  we  see  the  work  of  death 
on  every  side.  Bank  after  rank  is  falling  on  the 
battlefield  of  life,  and  the  cold  earth  on  which  we 
tread  is  arched  with  graves." 


200  THE  BOiTS   IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


WRETCHED  CONDITION  OF  OUR  HOSPITAL — A  REBEL  FAMILY — 
HOME  DUTIES — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  WOUNDED — SAD  SCENES 
AND  INCIDENTS — BATTLEFIELD  OF  DEC.  13ni,  1862 — 
TENT  HOSPITALS — MR.  WATERS — PAPER  MILL  HOSPITAL — 
THE  CITY  EVACUATED — THE  SLAUGHTER  ESTATE — MRS. 
WASHINGTON'S  MONUMENT — NINTH  CORPS  BURYING-GROUND 
— FAREWELL  TO  THE  BLOODY  CITY. 

Monday,  IQth. 

EARLY  this  morning  I  started  out,  accompanied  by 
one  of  the  "  boys "  detailed  to  assist  us,  for  an  old 
four  story  factory,  situated  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city, 
with  beef-soup,  crackers,  and  pillows.  Another  re 
volting  scene,  one  from  which  the  mind  instinctively 
turns,  was  there  witnessed.  I  found  the  wounded,  as 
in  other  hospitals,  lying  upon  the  hard  floor,  some 
with  but  many  without  even  a  blanket.  Everything 
in  the  shape  of  knapsacks,  haversacks,  canteens,  and 
even  boots,  are  used  for  pillows.  For  one  to  stand 
and  look  in  upon  them  in  all  their  destitution  and  suf 
fering,  and  to  hear  the  begging  for  pillows  upon  which 
to  rest  aching  heads,  wounded  limbs,  and  broken 
bones,  and  to  see  the  empty  cups  held  up  for  a  little 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  201 

soup — "just  a  little,  please," — would  be  a  soul-sicken 
ing  sight !     A  mere  spectator  could  not  live  here  ;  not 
if  he  had  a  heart  to  feel  for  others'  woes.    There  must 
be  something  to  stimulate;    and  the  hope  of  being 
able,  though  in  a  small  degree,  to  alleviate  the  suffer 
ing  seen  on  every  hand  nerves  one  for  the  work  and 
enables  him  to  labor  on  week  after  week  composedly, 
it  may  be,  amid  scenes  the  most  revolting,  with  ghast 
ly  death  staring  him  in  the  face  at  every  turn.     This 
is  no  place  for  idlers  or  the  faint-hearted.     Strong 
nerves,  brave  hearts,  and  willing  hands  are  needed. 
My  next  visit  was  to  the  hospitals  on  the  Heights, 
where  I  found  a  large  number  who  have,  to-day,  ar 
rived    from  the    battlefield.      Many    of   these   were 
wholly  unprovided  for;   some  were  lying  upon  the 
ground,  others  sitting  upon  old  boxes,  benches,  and 
even  the  wood-pile,  while  the  hot  sun  was  pouring  his 
searching  beams  upon  them.     Among  these  seemingly 
neglected  ones  was  a  poor  fellow  who  had  lost  part  of 
his  lower  jaw ;  his  swollen  face  was  bound  around  with 
an  old  blood-stained  bandage,  and  the  bloody  water 
was  running  from  his  mouth.     He  could  not  speak, 
but  looked,  oh,  so  imploringly  for  help !     I  resolved 
to  do  something  for  him.     My  first  thought  was  to 
provide  for  him  a  bed ;  but  where  was  the  bedding  to 
come  from  ?     It  was  suggested  that  I  should  go  to  a 
"  Sccesh  "  family,  living  about  eighty  rods  from  there, 


202  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

and  try  and  beg  some.  I  readily  yielded  to  the  sug 
gestion  ;  but,  on  making  known  my  errand,  the  woman 

I  can  not  call  her  lady — of  the  house  utterly  refused 

to  let  me  have  any,  saying  that  they  needed  what  little 
they  had  for  themselves.  I  did  not  doubt  her  word, 
but  told  her  she  must  try  and  divide  with  me,  even  if  it 
were  no  more  than  a  couple  of  quilts  or  blankets,  as  I 
wished  to  fix  a  bed  for  a  soldier  who  was  very  badly 
wounded.  But  she  still  refused.  "  Yery  well,"  I  re 
plied,  "I  shall  report  you  to  the  Provost  Marshal," 
and  turned  to  leave,  when  an  old  gentleman — her 
father,  I  concluded — said,  "  I  reckon  we  can  spare  a 
couple  of  blankets  and  a  mattress;  "  and,  without  wait 
ing  for  her  consent,  went  into  an  adjoining  room  and 
brought  them  out.  This  was  better  than  I  expected, 
and  more  than  I  had  asked  for ;  but,  on  seeing  the  blan 
kets,  I  recognized  them  as  belonging  to  "  Uncle  Sam." 
The  look  of  gratitude  the  poor  boy  gave,  as  he  lay 
down  to  rest  upon  his  new  bed,  with  a  clean  bandage 
about  his  face,  will  never  be  effaced  from  memory. 

****** 
A  few  words  in  regard  to  our  home-duties,  per 
haps,  would  not  be  amiss.  We  made  our  coffee  in  a 
caldron-kettle,  stewed  our  fruit  in  a  large  copper 
boiler,  and  made  our  soups,  puddings,  and  tea  over 
the  stove.  It  took  one  to  attend  to  the  storeroom, 
one  or  two  busy  cooking,  and  several  constantly 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  203 

employed  carrying  and  distributing  supplies  to  the 
various  hospitals.  Our  rooms  were  continually  be 
sieged  with  weary,  hungry  soldiers,  who  were  more 
fortunate  than  their  comrades  in  not  being  wholly 
disabled.  To  all  such,  wherever  they  hailed  from, 
coffee  and  crackers  were  furnished  as  long  as  the 
supply  lasted.  Among  the  soldiers  detailed  to  assist 
us  were  Leonard  Sears  and  George  Taylor,  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan ;  James  Meade  and  Frank  Phillips, 
of  the  Twentieth;  Hall,  of  the  Fourth;  Lewis  Gridley, 
of  the  Second ;  and  one  whose  name  I  have  forgot 
ten,  whom  we  always  called  "  Curly."  Poor  boy !  he 
was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor, 
and  died  while  en  route  for  Washington.  In  addition 
to  the  above  there  were  three  from  the  Twenty- 
Sixth,  whose  names  I  have  not.  These  were  not 
able-bodied  men  from  the  ranks,  but  convalescents 
from  the  hospitals,  who  were  detailed  at  different 
times  and  places  during  the  summer  of  1864.  They 
were  faithful  to  duty,  and  did  us  excellent  service. 

Tuesday,  the  17th. 

The  wounded  still  arriving.  Early  this  morning  a 
long  train  came  in  and  parked  across  the  way  from 
us.  Among  those  who  assisted  in  the  work  of  feed 
ing  these  was  Chaplain  Way,  of  the  Twenty-Fourth 
Michigan  Infantry,  who  always  seems  to  know  just 


204  THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

what,  when,  and  where  to  do.     He  is  always  willing 
to  assist,  and  always  at  work.    ; 

Many  of  these  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
and  were  nearly  starved.  Most  of  them  were  se 
riously,  and  many  mortally  wounded.  Death  was  at 
work  while  on  their  way  from  the  field ;  his  cold,  icy 
fingers  had  chilled  the  life-current  in  the  hearts  of 
some.  There  was  one  poor  man  with  both  thighs 
amputated.  As  I  handed  him  a  cup  of  wine,  he 
raised  up,  drank  a  few  swallows,  and,  without  a  mur 
mur  or  even  a  groan,  lay  down  again.  Instead  of 
complaining  at  his  hard  lot,  he  had  a  word  of  thanks 
for  this  small  favor.  "  Oh,  what  bravery  this !  " 
thought  I,  as  I  passed  on  to  the  next  ambulance. 
After  all  had  been  fed,  the  train  moved  on  toward 
Belle  Plain,  where  they  are  to  be  taken  on  board 
transports  and  carried  further  North.  The  suffering 
experienced  during  that  tedious  ride,  what  pen  can 
portray?  During  the  day  I  have  been  to  several 
hospitals,  with  soup,  crackers,  milk-punch,  tea,  etc. 
One  of  these,  formerly  a  stable,  I  found  in  a  most 
deplorable  condition.  The  wounded,  terribly  man 
gled  and  covered  with  blood,  were  lying  upon  the 
floor.  Many  of  these  were  rebels.  Only  a  few  hours 
had  elapsed  since  their  arrival  from  the  field  of  bat 
tle.  A  more  heart- sicken  ing  sight  I  have  not  wit 
nessed  since  coming  to  this  bloody  city.  I  could 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  205 

not  pass  them  by  neglected.  Though  enemies,  they 
were  nevertheless  helpless,  suffering  human  beings. 
I  deemed  it  best  to  act  in  accordance  with  the  in 
junction:  "If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him." 

With  these  few  extracts  from  my  journal,  some 
thing  of  an  idea  can  be  formed,  not  only  of  our  work 
while  in  Fredericksburg,  but  also  of  the  wretched 
condition  of  our  hospitals — though,  in  most  of  these, 
great  improvements  were  made  before  the  place  was 
evacuated.  Cots  were  furnished,  and  other  comforts 
supplied,  which  it  was  impossible  to  have  at  first; 
for  the  wounded  were  brought  in,  not  only  by  hun 
dreds,  but  by  thousands.  Day  after  day,  long  trains 
freighted  with  human  suffering  continued  to  arrive, 
until  it  was  estimated  that  there  were  at  least  ten 
thousand  wounded  in  the  city  at  a  time.  All  the 
public  buildings — the  Court-House,  churches,  hotels, 
warehouses,  factories,  the  paper  mill,  theatre,  school- 
buildings,  stores,  stables,  many  private  residences — 
and,  in  fact,  everything  that  could  give  shelter  was 
converted  into  receptacles  for  the  wounded,  until 
Fredericksburg  was  one  vast  hospital. 

Our  daily  duties  were  so  similar,  that  an  account 
of  one  day's  work  would  be  a  fair  specimen  of  every 
day's.  We  knew  no  rest  until  the  wounded  were  all 
removed.  Night  ever  found  us  weary  and  foot-sore. 
There  was  a  large  number  of  faithful  laborers  at  Fred- 


206  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

ericksburg.  The  different  commissions  and  State 
associations  were  there,  each  with  a  noble  corps  of 
earnest  workers.  Among  these  untiring  ones  was 
Mrs.  General  Barlow,  whose  husband  commanded  the 
First  Division,  Second  Corps.  Many  of  the  improve 
ments  made  in  our  hospitals — especially  of  the  Second 
CorpS — were  the  result  of  her  personal  efforts.  She 
worked  on  through  sunshine  and  storm,  until  her  over 
taxed  system  yielded  to  the  ravages  of  disease,  and 
she  fell  a  martyr  to  the  cause  she  had  so  faithfully 
served.  But  the  laurels  she  won  "are  unfading,  and 
will  be  verdant  in  heaven."  Among  the  many  faith 
ful  workers  in  Fredericksburg,  I  knew  of  none  who 
accomplished  more  than  Mrs.  Samson,  of  Maine,  and 
Miss  Hancock,  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  not  only 
earnest  and  faithful,  but  efficient — going  where  many 
would  not  think  of  venturing,  overcoming  obstacles  to 
others  insurmountable,  yielding  to  discouragements 
never.  Heat  or  cold,  storm  or  sunshine,  distance  or 
danger,  were  never  allowed  to  interfere  with  duty. 
There  were  many  others  whose  noble  deeds  are  re 
corded  on  high. 

We  were  aided  in  our  work  by  a  number  of  volun 
teer  laborers,  who,  one  after  another,  remained  a  few 
days  or  weeks,  as  they  had  opportunity.  Among 
these  were  Colonel  Barnes,  Messrs.  Bayley  and  Wal 
lace,  of  Detroit;  also,  Messrs.  Thompson,  Moses,  Pierce, 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  207 

Horton,  Willcox,  and  Green.     Each  day's  work  was 
full  of  incident,  sad  yet  interesting.     One  morning, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Horton,  I  went  with  supplies  to 
one  of  the  hospitals,  which  I  found  in  a  most  destitute 
and  neglected  condition.     It  was  filled  with  wounded, 
brought  in  the  night  before.     As  yet  they  had  eaten 
nothing,  neither  had  they  been  visited  by  a  surgeon, 
consequently  their  wounds  remained  undressed.     The 
hospital  was  filthy  beyond  all   comparison.      After 
dishing  out  our  soup  and  crackers  to  those  poor  half- 
starved  men,    Mr.   H.   began   the  work  of  dressing 
wounds,  while  I  started  in  search  of  a  surgeon,  or 
some  one,  to  assist  him.     At  the  Cavalry  Corps  Hos 
pital—more  than  a  mile  distant— I  secured  the  ser 
vices  of  Steward  Smith;  and,  as  we  were  hurrying 
back  to  that  abode  of  wretchedness,  we  were  over 
taken  by  Steward  Dennis,  of  the  Sixth  Cavalry,  who 
volunteered  to  assist  us ;  and  very  soon  both  were  at 
work  in  good  earnest,  while  I  hastened  "home"  to 
replenish  our  supply  of  rags,  bandages,  shirts,  drawers, 
pillows,  and  handkerchiefs ;  and  then,  assisted  by  the 
nurse,  began  the  work  of  cleaning  the  hospital.     Be 
fore  leaving,  all  had  been  fed,  wounds  dressed,  clean 
clothing   provided,   the   worst   of  the   filth   and   dirt 
removed,  and  a  large  quantity  of  lemonade  made  for 
the  "boys."     One  poor  fellow  died  during  the  day, 
and  three  more  before  morning.     In  a  few  days,  those 


208  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

who  survived  were  removed,  and  the  hospital  again 
filled  with  others.  Thus  they  continued  to  come 
and  go,  until  the  last  wounded  were  brought  from 
the  field. 

The  next  day  I  made  another  visit  to  the  hospitals 
on  the  "Heights."  Mr.  Marvin,  A.  C.  C.  delegate, 
accompanied  me.  The  heat  was  oppressive.  The 
perspiration  dropped  profusely  from  our  faces  while 
climbing  that  long  hill  with  our  loaded  baskets.  We 
found  a  large  number  of  new  arrivals.  In  the  open 
air,  near  one  of  the  hospitals,  amputations  were  being 
performed,  and,  from  the  pile  of  dissevered  limbs  near 
by,  it  was  evident  that  the  number  was  fearfully  large. 
A  young  man  in  one  of  the  wards,  who  had  just  been 
brought  from  the  amputating  -  table,  and  had  suffi 
ciently  recovered  from  the  effects  of  chloroform  to 
realize  his  loss,  was  most  bitterly  deploring  it.  To 
him  his  loss  was  irreparable.  All  efforts  to  pacify 
him  were  made  in  vain  ;  he  gave  himself  up  to  weep 
ing,  lamenting  his  great  misfortune. 

But  his  was  an  exceptional  case.  The  language  of 
the  wounded  was  oftener  in  accordance  with  the  spirit 
of  the  following  touching  poem : 

"  Tlie  knife  was  still ;  the  surgeon  bore 

The  shattered  arm  away ; 
Upon  his  bed,  in  painless  sleep, 
The  noble  hero  lay. 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  209 

He  woke,  but  saw  the  vacant  place 

Where  arm  of  his  had  lain, 
Then  faintly  spoke :   '  Oh !   let  me  see 

My  strong  right  arm  again.' 

" '  Good-by,  old  arm  ! '  the  soldier  said, 

As  he  clasped  the  fingers  cold ; 
And  down  his  pale  but  manly  cheek 

The  tear-drops  gently  rolled. 
'My  strong  right-arm,  no  deed  of  yours 

Now  gives  me  cause  to  sigh ; 
But  'tis  hard  to  part  such  trusty  friends — 

Good-by,  old  arm !    Good-by  1 

"' You've  served  me  well  these  many  years, 

In  sunlight  and  in  shade ; 
But,  comrade,  we  have  done  with  war — 

Let  dreams  of  glory  fade. 
You'll  never  more  my  sabre  swing 

In  battle  fierce  and  hot  ; 
You'll  never  bear  another  flag, 

Or  fire  another  shot. 

"'I  do  not  mourn  to  lose  you  now 

For  home  and  native  land ; 
Oh !   proud  am  I  to  give  my  mite 

For  freedom,  pure  and  grand. 
Thank  God,  no  selfish  thought  is  mine, 

"While  here  I  bleeding  lie ; 
But  bear  it  tenderly  away. 

Good-by,  old  arm  !     Good-by  ! ' " 

I  often  wondered  at  the  cheerfulness  and  fortitude 
with  which  they  bore  not  only  their  great  losses,  but 


210  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

so  much  pain.  If  they  were  heroes  amid  the  fierce 
conflict  of  battle,  they  were  equally  so  when  suffering 
in  hospitals.  On  our  return  from  this  sad  visit  we 
were  joined  by  Captain  Williams,  of  the  Seventh 
Michigan  Infantry,  who  pointed  out  to  us  the  battle 
field  of  December  13th,  1862,  and  the  very  places 
where  Michigan  regiments  were  stationed ;  also  the 
line  of  works  charged  on  and  carried.  As  I  gazed 
upon  those  long  lines  of  fortifications,  "rising  one 
above  the  other,  tier  upon  tier,"  upon  which  rebel  bat 
teries  were  planted  that  mowed  our  men  down  so 
fearfully  as  they  advanced  in  solid  phalanx,  facing 
those  unyielding  guns  which  continually  belched 
forth  their  missiles  of  death,  I  did  not  wonder  that 
they  were  compelled  to  fall  back.  It  seems  like  mad 
ness  to  have  attempted  to  carry  such  works  by  direct 
attack.  It  was  done  at  a  fearful  loss  of  life.  The 
blood  poured  forth  on  that  eventful  day  quenched  the 
light  in  many  a  home.  The  battle  work  of  thousands 
was  that  day  completed,  and  they  left  sleeping  upon 
the  "  green  couch  of  our  final  rest."  By  how  many, 
ere  the  heart  grew  still,  might  not  the  confession  and 
the  earnest  appeal  expressed  in  the  following  have 
been  made? 


"  I'm  no  saint ! 
But,  boys,  say  a  prayer — there  is  one  that  begins 

'  Our  Father,'  and  then  says,  '  Forgive  us  our  sins ; ' 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  211 

Don't  forget  that  part,  say  that  strongly,  and  tlicu 
I'll  try  to  repeat  it,  and  you'll  say  'Amen!' 
Ah !   I'm  no  saint ! " 

.Not  far  from  the  20th  of  the  month,  tent  hospitals 
were  erected  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  city 
along  the  south  bank  of  the  Kappahannock,  to  which 
many  of  the  more  seriously  wounded  were  removed, 
as  the  atmosphere,  being  so  much  purer  than  in  the 
city,  would  greatly  favor  their  recovery.  To  one  of 
these  tents  Mr.  Waters— whom  I  had  previously  men 
tioned — was  taken.  The  evening  before  his  removal, 
when  I  took  him  his  supper — consisting  of  tea  and 
custard,  which  he  had  requested — I  found  him  in 
great  distress  of  mind.  He  had  heard  it  rumored  that 
he  was  to  be  removed,  but  knew  not  whither,  and 
anxiously  inquired,  "What  does  it  all  mean?"  He 
was  well  aware  that  frequently,  when  soldiers  were 
given  up  to  die,  they  were  taken  into  what  was  called 
the  "  death  ward,"  and  the  poor  man  thought  that  was 
where  he  was  to  go;  but  when  he  learned  where  he 
was  going,  and  the  reason  therefor,  the  tears  started 
from  his  eyes,  and,  with  quivering  lips,  he  exclaimed, 
"Oh!  I  thought  my  death-warrant  was  sealed." 
"  Well,  what  if  it  were ;  are  you  afraid  to  die  ?  "  I 
asked.  "Oh,  no,"  he  replied,  "for  my  trust  is  in 
Jesus.  I  feel  that  all  would  be  well  with  me  were  I 
to  die ;  but  I  have  a  large  family  who  need  me  so 


212  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

much ;  for  their  sakes  I  hope  my  life  will  be  saved." 
When  about  to  leave  him  he  extended  his  hand,  say 
ing,  "  Now  be  sure  and  find  me  at  the  other  hospital, 
won't  you?  "  The  promise  was  made  and  kept,  but  I 
found  him  fast  sinking  into  the  grave.  He  expressed 
little  hope  of  recovery,  but  a  good  hope  in  Jesus.  He 
was  soon  after  removed  to  Washington  and  taken  to 
Armory  Square  Hospital,  where  he  lingered  until  the 
26th  of  June,  when  he  exchanged  his  suit  of  blue  for 
a  robe  of  white,  and  laid  him  down  to  rest.  After  I 
had  taken  my  leave  of  Mr.  W. — the  evening  in  ques 
tion — and  as  I  was  hastily  leaving  the  hospital,  my 
attention  was  attracted  to  a  soldier  who  was  weeping 
and  sobbing  as  though  his  heart  would  break.  On 
going  to  him  I  recognized  one  to  whose  wants  I  had 
frequently  ministered.  On  inquiring  the  cause  of  his 
trouble,  "  Oh,  dear !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  the  doctor  isn't 
going  to  let  you  bring  anything  more  into  the  hospi 
tal  ;  but,  if  you  don't,  I  shall  starve  to  death."  I 
could  scarcely  convince  him  that  it  was  only  a  rumor, 
and  that  I  should  continue  my  visits  as  before,  but  lie 
would  not  relinquish  his  hold  on  my  hand  until  he 
had  exacted  a  positive  promise  that  I  would  surely 
come  again ;  and  not  until  my  next  visit  was  he  fully 
reassured  that  all  was  right  In  a  few  days  my  poor 
one-armed  boy  was  sent  off,  and  I  saw  him  no  more. 
The  same  evening  I  again  visited  "Planter's  Hotel/' 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  213 

Edward  Fisher,  whom  I  found  in  the  afternoon  peace 
ful  and  happy,  was  now  raving  with  delirium.  Ap 
proaching  his  bed  and  calling  him  by  name,  I  asked  if 
he  knew  me;  for  a  moment  he  appeared  rational, 
looked  up  and  smiled,  but  the  next  he  was  wild  and 
delirious  again.  He  had  already  given  an  arm  for  his 
country,  and  now  he  was  about  to  offer  his  young  life  a 
sacrifice  upon  the  same  altar.  Ere  the  morning's  dawn 
he  was  enrolled  in  the  army  of  the  "Boys  in  White." 

Upon  one  of  my  visits  to  the  Paper  Mill  Hospital 
I  found  seventy  men  who  had  eaten  nothing  for 
twenty-four  hours.  Although  late  in  the  afternoon, 
I  promised  the  "boys"  that  they  should  have  some 
thing  to  eat  before  I  slept  that  night;  so  hurrying 
home  I  made  farina  and  corn-starch  puddings  for  these 
seventy  hungry  men.  But,  before  returning  to  the 
hospital,  rations  had  been  issued,  which,  together  with 
the  puddings,  they  declared  just  made  a  good  meal. 
At  that  late  day  I  knew  of  no  excuse  for  being  short 
of  government  rations,  and  there  must  have  been 
great  neglect  on  the  part  of  some  one ;  though  when 
we  first  occupied  Fredericksburg  it  was  almost  impos 
sible  to  procure  transportation  sufficient  to  convey 
supplies  from  Belle  Plain,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles 
from  the  city,  and  twenty -five  or  thirty  from  the  army. 
Much  suffering  and  many  deaths  were  the  unavoidable 
result. 


214  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

Presently  it  began  to  be  rumored  that  the  city  was 
about  to  be  evacuated.  It  was  thought  by  many  that 
either  Bowling  Green  or  Port  Eoyal  would  be  the 
new  base  of  operations — though  all  was  conjecture. 
But  soon  the  order  to  evacuate  was  received ;  conse 
quently  our  supplies,  not  yet  disposed  of,  were  packed, 
transportation  procured,  passes  obtained,  and  every 
thing  put  in  readiness  for  a  move.  "Wednesday,  the 
25th  of  May,  all  the  Michigan  delegation,  except  my 
self,  went  on  board  transports  bound  for  "Washington. 
As  I  had  a  promise  of  transportation  to  the  "  new 
base,"  I  greatly  preferred  going  there  to  returning  to 
Washington.  Our  tent  hospitals  were  not  broken  up 
until  the  27th,  though  the  last  of  the  wounded  (in  the 
city)  were  removed  the  25th.  That  morning  I  visited 
the  Amputation  Hospital — so  called  from  the  fact  that 
nearly  all  the  wounded  there  had  been  subjected  to 
the  amputating  knife.  This,  I  believe,  was  the  last 
hospital  in  the  city  broken  up.  Most  of  the  patients 
in  it  at  this  time  were  from  Michigan.  Among  the 
number  was  a  brave  Indian  chief,  who  had  received  a 
mortal  wound,  and  died  soon  after  arriving  at  Wash 
ington.  The  others,  as  far  as  I  know,  recovered.  The 
afternoon  of  the  same  day  I  made  another  visit  to  our 
lent  hospitals,  taking  sundry  articles  for  distribution, 
among  which  was  a  bottle  of  sherry  brandy,  for  Mr. 
Waters,  who,  I  knew,  would  greatly  need  stimulants 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  215 

t 

during  his  tedious  journey  to  Washington.  That  day 
I  took  my  farewell  leave  of  him.  In  one  of  the  wards 
was  a  man  in  the  agonies  of  death,  alone  and  uncon 
scious.  Taking  a  fan,  I  stood  by  his  cot  and  brushed 
away  the  flies,  which  were  buzzing  and  swarming 
around  him  like  bees.  But  the  struggle  was  soon 
over ;  he  died  without  returning  to  consciousness.  I 
deeply  regretted  afterwards  that  I  did  not  obtain  the 
address  of  some  member  of  his  family,  and  write  the 
anxiously  awaiting  friends,  whose  dreadful  suspense, 
perhaps,  was  not  relieved  until  the  official  announce 
ment  of  his  death  reached  them. 

The  Slaughter  estate,  on  which  these  tents  were 
pitched,  was  a  lovely  place.  The  site  of  the  mansion 
was  delightful.  A  beautiful  flower-garden,  in  which 
various  kinds  of  roses  blossomed  abundantly,  making 
the  very  atmosphere  heavy  with  their  fragrance,  gra 
dually  sloped  toward  the  river.  But  the  old  house 
was  deserted ;  it  bore  fearful  testimony  to  the  destruc 
tive  effect  of  balls,  of  both  friend  and  foe.  I  never 
saw  a  building  more  completely  riddled  with  shot  and 
shell. 

The  afternoon  of  the  26th,  in  company  with  four 
other  ladies,  who  were  also  waiting  transportation,  I 
paid  a  visit  to  the  tomb  of  Mrs.  Mary  Washington. 
The  monument  had  evidently  been  struck  by  a  can 
non-ball,  as  the  top  was  broken  off,  and  lay  in  frag- 


216  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

ments  on  the  ground.  "We  gathered  up  a  few  pieces 
as  sacred  momentoes  of  the  spot  where  repose  the 
ashes  of  that  noble  woman — the  mother  of  the 
"Father  of  his  Country."  As  we  stood  in  silence, 
gazing  with  solemn  awe  upon  her  grave,  we  could  not 
help  thinking  of  her  son — that  little  boy,  who  once, 
perhaps,  played  in  childish  glee  upon  the  very  ground 
where  we  were  standing,  and  who  with  his  little 
hatchet  cut  the  favorite  cherry-tree,  growing,  as  some 
affirm,  upon  the  spot  where  that  monument  now 
stands.  Then  the  beautiful  lesson  taught  by  his  truth 
ful  simplicity,  and  the  deep  impression  it  made  upon 
our  minds  in  early  life,  were  recalled;  also  the  purity 
of  his  after  life,  his  noble  record,  his  philanthropic 
deeds,  his  peaceful  death.  "With  reflections  like  these 
we  leave  this  venerated  tomb,  and  slowly  wend  our 
way  to  the  soldiers'  burying-ground,  and  pay  our  last 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  hundreds  of  brave  men  who 
were  there  resting  from  their  labors,  and  "  whose 
slumbers  will  not  be  broken  until  the  reveille  of  the 
resurrection  morn  shall  awake  them." 

"Soldiers'  graves  are  thickly  scattered 

O'er  tlie  valley  and  tlie  lea ; 
They  are  sleeping  on  the  mountains, 

They  are  sleeping  by  the  sea." 

The  morning  of  the  27th,  a  detachment  of  cavalry 

was  sent  out  to  the  "wilderness"  to  recapture  some 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  217 

of  our  wounded  who  had  been  for  several  days  in  the 
hands  of  the  rebels.  Before  night  they  returned  with 
forty  of  those  poor  half-starved  men,  whom  I  assisted 
in  feeding  after  they  were  taken  on  board  the  steamer 
"Greorge  Weems."  About  nine  o'clock  that  eve 
ning  I  went  aboard  the  same  boat.  It  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity  with  the  wounded,  nurses,  agents, 
officers  and  refugees.  Next  morning — as  we  had  not 
left  Fredericksburg — while  waiting  for  the  tide  to 
come  in,  I  went  ashore  and  returned  to  our  old  quar 
ters,  nearly  a  mile  arid  a  half  distant.  Mrs.  May  hew 
and  Mrs.  Samson  of  Maine  accompanied  me.  Having 
found  the  forgotten  articles,  which  I  was  in  search  of, 
we  retraced  our  steps ;  but,  supposing  we  had  plenty 
of  time,  we  strolled  leisurely  along,  gathering  flowers, 
and  stopping  a  moment  to  gaze  upon  the  lonely,  de 
serted  hospitals  that  we  passed,  in  which  so  many 
distressing  sights  had  been  witnessed,  and  so  much 
suffering  experienced. 

On  our  way,  several  "Secesh"  women  greeted  us 
with,  "  Grood-by,  Yanks ;  glad  you're  going — reckon 
you  won't  get  back  here  again."  We  most  heartily 
responded  to  their  expressions  of  joy.  If  they  were 
rejoiced  to  have  us  go,  we  were  no  less  so  to  leave. 
When  within  a  few  rods  of  the  landing,  the  whistle 
blew,  the  plank  was  taken  in,  the  water-wheel  began 
to  revolve,  and  the  boat  to  shove  out  from  the  shore. 


218  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

If  we  never  before  knew  the  meaning  of  the  phrase 
"double  quick,"  I  think  we  then  learned  it;  while  the 
thought  of  being  left  in  rebeldom  every  moment  ac 
celerated  our  speed.  Hands  extended  to  aid  us  were 
eagerly  grasped,  and  with  a  desperate  leap,  as  for  life, 
we  jumped  on  board.  Had  we  been  left,  no  alterna 
tive  would  have  remained  to  us,  except  that  of  march 
ing  the  overland  route  with  the  troops,  the  last  of 
whom  were  then  slowly  filing  out  of  town ;  for  this 
was  the  last  boat  of  any  description  that  left  Freder- 
icksburg,  and  all  communication  with  the  place  that 
day  ceased.  At  ten  o'clock  we  bade  farewell  to  the 
"  bloody  city "  with  its  hundreds  of  sleeping  braves. 
But  we  could  not  forget  the  sad  experiences  of  the  pre 
vious  two  weeks. 

The  weariness,  the  fatigue,  the  oppressive  heat,  the 
care  and  anxiety,  the  sick,  the  wounded,  the  dying,  the 
dead;  the  long  trains  of  ambulances  freighted  with 
human  suffering,  the  bloody  scenes,  the  torn  and 
mangled  bodies,  the  newly-made  graves,  were  all  fresh 
in  mind,  and,  being  securely  locked  in  the  halls  of 
memory,  can  never  be  forgotten. 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  219 


XV. 


PORT  ROYAL — PROM  PORT  ROYAL  TO  WHITE  HOUSE — ARRIVAL  OP 
AGENTS  WITH  SUPPLIES — BATTLE  OP  COAL  HARBOR — SICK 
AND  WOUNDED  SOLDIERS — MAJOR  LEWIS — A  MASSACHUSETTS 
SOLDIER — EVACUATION  OP  WHITE  HOUSE — A  SAD  ACCIDENT — 
THE  'DELAY — LAND  AT  CITY  POINT — ARRIVAL  OP  MR.  HOW 
ARD  WITH  SUPPLIES — A  CALL  PROM  GENERAL  GRANT. 

AFTER  considerable  delay,  and  entertaining  many 
fears  lest  we  should  be  attacked  by  guerrillas  who 
were  occasionally  seen  along  the  shore — until  we  were 
joined  by  a  gunboat,  under  the  protection  of  which 
we  felt  secure — we  arrived  at  Port  Eoyal  Sunday 
morning  at  eight  o'clock.  Here  we  left  the  "  George 
Weems,"  which  was  en  route  for  Washington,  and 
went  on  board  the  exchange.  While  lying  at  anchor, 
services  were  held  by  the  chaplain  of  the  Sixth  Wis 
consin  volunteers.  His  sermon — from  the  words, 
"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd " — was  full  of  comfort. 
Those  present  upon  that  occasion  will,  I  am  sure,  ever 
love  to  refer  to  it  as  one  of  the  bright  spots  in  their 
army  life.  Before  arriving  at  Port  Eoyal  a  touching 
incident  occurred.  A  rebel  soldier  was  dying,  and,  in 
great  distress  of  mind,  he  asked  to  be  prayed  for.  We 


220  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

gathered  around  his  bed — a  few  professing  Christians 
— and  tried  to  point  him  to  the  "  Lamb  of  God,  who 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world."  Precious  words 
of  promise  were  read  from  the  New  Testament  and 
prayer  offered  in  his  behalf,  after  which  he  seemed 
more  composed,  but  he  sank  rapidly — as  a  wound  in 
his  neck  had  broken  out  afresh  and  was  bleeding  pro 
fusely — and  died,  as  we  hope,  trusting  in  Jesus.  Late 
in  the  afternoon,  learning  from  Dr.  St.  Glair,  master 
of  transportation,  that  another  boat  would  leave  the 
next  day  having  better  accommodations,  I  went 
ashore  and  put  up  for  the  night  with  a  rebel  family, 
which  at  that  time  consisted  of  an  elderly  lady  and  a 
little  girl.  I  learned  from  the  old  lady  that  her  hus 
band  was  dead,  and  that  her  two  sons  were  in  the 
rebel  army.  Her  servants  had  all  deserted  her.  She 
appeared  lonely  and  disconsolate,  not  having  even  the 
hope  of  victory  to  cheer  her. 

Her  house  was  an  old-fashioned  vine-clad  cottage ; 
the  kitchen,  with  its  huge  fire-place  and  massive  iron 
kettles,  where  the  servants  had  formerly  done  the 
work,  being  separated  from  the  main  building,  as  is 
customary  in  the  South.  A  large  garden  near  by  w&s 
filled  with  vegetables  and  flowers  and  interspersed 
with  shade- trees  and  shrubbery,  the  whole  being  sur 
rounded  with  a  fine  boxwood  hedge.  In  one  part  of 
the  house  were  the  head-quarters  of  Dr.  Snow,  of  the 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  221 

Ninth  Corps.  Being  detained  here,  contrary  to  expec 
tation,  until  Monday  evening,  I  endeavored  to  make 
myself  useful  by  assisting  about  the  cooking  for  the 
doctor  and  "  mess."  We  got  up  quite  a  sumptuous 
dinner,  consisting  not  only  of  pork,  u  hard  tack  "  and 
coffee,  as  usual,  but,  in  addition,  "  flour  gravy,"  stewed 
goose,  berries,  and  "  hoe-cake."  Our  Port  Eoyal  din 
ner  will  certainly  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
partook,  for  it  was  a  right  royal  one. 

Shortly  after  sundown  we  took  leave  of  our  kind 
hostess  and  went  on  board  the  steamer  "Ocean 
Wave,"  bound  for  White  House  Landing,  which  place 
had  been  decided  upon  as  the  "  new  base."  We 
anchor  and  await  the  tide  next  morning,  when  we  find 
ourselves  sailing  down  the  Eappahannock.  It  is 
afternoon  when  we  enter  the  Chesapeake  bay,  ninety 
miles  from  Port  Eoyal.  The  day  was  extremely 
warm,  but  a  fine  breeze  blowing  from  the  bay  renders 
the  heat  quite  endurable.  The  scenery,  portions  of 
the  way,  was  fine.  I  enjoyed  the  passage  very  much, 
especially  as  it  afforded  a  good  opportunity  for  rest 
and  preparation  for  another  hard  campaign. 

About  seven  in  the  evening  we  ran  upon  a  sand-bar 
and  anchored  for  the  night  The  next  morning  we  en 
tered  the  York  river,  and  at  five  P.  M.  the  Pamunkey. 

The  waters  of  this  river,  unlike  those  of  the  York, 
nre  dark  and  muddy,  its  banks  low  and  marshy ;  be- 


222  TITE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

sides,  the  river  is  very  crooked  and  the  channel  nar 
row  ;  consequently,  it  was  not  at  all  surprising  that 
we  ran  aground  again  soon  after  dark,  where  we  were 
obliged  to  remain  until  the  tide  came  in  the  next 
morning.  Point  Lookout,  where  we  had  an  extensive 
hospital,. had  been  passed,  also  Yorktown — a  place  of 
great  historical  interest,  rendered  so,  not  only  during 
our  late  war,  but  the  Eevolutionary  also.  Here  Lord 
Cornwallis  surrendered  his  sword  to  General  George 
"Washington.  Here  also,  nearly  a  century  later,  Mc- 
Clellan's  mighty  army  encamped  for  weeks,  besieging 
the  fortifications  of  the  rebels,  which  they  finally 
evacuated  in  safety,  while  his  own  brave  men  died  by 
hundreds  and  thousands,  of  disease  contracted  in  the 
pestilential  swamps  of  the  Chickahominy. 

Tuesday,  the  2d  of  June,  we  land  at  "White  House, 
our  new  field  of  labor.  No  wounded  had  yet  ar 
rived,  though  a  long  train  of  ambulances  could  be 
seen,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Appomattox,  wait 
ing  for  the  river  to  be  bridged  in  order  to  cross 
over.  At  the  same  time  could  be  heard  the  boom 
ing  of  guns,  warning  us  to  be  in  readiness  to  bind 
up  the  wounds  they  were  making. 

A  delegation  from  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Com 
missions  went  over  by  boat,  with  supplies  for  those 
having  already  arrived.  Our  hospitals  were  not  yet 
established,  though,  before  night,  a  large  number  of 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  223 

tents  were   in   readiness   to   shelter  the  wounded   as 
soon  as  they   should   arrive.     Soon   after  landing  I 
learned  of  the  timely  arrival  of  Messrs.  Kellogg,  Cater, 
and  Lapand,  from  Washington,  with  supplies ;  but,  a 
cold,    drenching   rain    coming    on,   which    lasted   all 
night,    and   having  no   shelter   for  our   goods,   they 
were  not  taken  from  the  barge  until  next  day,  when 
Dr.  St.  Clair  kindly  loaned  us  a  large  tent,  and  a  team 
with  which  to  bring  up  our  goods.     In  a  short  .time 
all  were  hard   at  work.     Mrs.  Nowell,   of  Philadel 
phia,  volunteered  to  assist  us,  and  remained  with  us 
several  days.     We   cooked  over  a  range   outside  of 
our  tent  until  a  stove  was  procured — which  was  al 
ready  promised  me  by  Dr.  Burmaster,    Surgeon  in 
charge  of  the  Second  Corps  hospitals.     At  night  we 
made  two  tents  of  one,  by  putting  in  a  canvas  parti 
tion;   and  for  beds,  spread  our  blankets   upon  the 
ground,  which,  if  not  the  best  substitute  for  feathers 
or  mattress,  answered  very  well.      My  first  night  at 
this  place  I  was  provided  for  by  Dr.  Snow,  who  gave 
me  possession  of  one  of  his  unoccupied  hospital-tents, 
sent  me  a  stretcher   and  blankets  for  a  bed,  also  a 
warm  supper  and  breakfast — a  kindness  fully  appre 
ciated  and  gratefully  remembered. 

The  3d  inst,  the  wounded  were  arriving  nearly  all 
day  from  the  battle  of  Coal  Harbor,  among  whom 
I  found  a  cousin — Lieutenant  Tracy,  of  the  Seventh 


THE   BOYS  IX  WHITE. 

Michigan  Infantry — whose  brother  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  "Frank"  will  not,  I 
am  sure,  soon  forget  the  many  times  he  drew  rations 
from  the  "Michigan  Belief,"  at  Fredericksburg. 

The  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  rest  of  the 
Michigan  agents  and  three  Pennsylvania  delegates, 
viz. :  Mr.  Eitz,  Mrs.  Price,  and  Miss  Sayles,  arrived 
with  a  large  supply  of  hospital-stores  and  two  addi 
tional  tents.  At  this  place  the  Michigan  and  Penn 
sylvania  Associations  worked  together.  We  had  our 
goods  in  common,  and  endeavored,  to  the  extent  of 
our  efforts,  to  relieve  sufferma-. 

'  O 

We  remained  at  White  House  until  the  14th — at 
least  I  did.  The  wounded  were  almost  constantly 
arriving,  as  battles  were  daily  being  fought.  Work 
was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  I  trust  I  shall  not  be 
considered  egotistical  when  I  say  we  did  work  early 
and  late.  Best  belonged  only  to  the  past,  or  was 
looked  forward  to  in  the  future;  it  had  no  connec 
tion  with  the  present. 

Going  to  the  numerous  hospitals  with  supplies  of 
all  kinds ;  cooking  soups,  puddings,  custards ;  making 
tea,  coffee,  lemonade,  milk-punch;  preparing  "special 
diet"  for  individual  cases,  dressing  wounds,  bathing 
burning  brows,  receiving  dying  messages,  writing  to 
friends  of  the  disabled  and  deceased,  were  among 
our  daily  duties.  Sad  and  distressing  scenes  met  us 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  225 

at  every  turn.  Death  was  a  daily  visitor.  Graves 
almost  hourly  increased  in  numbers;  and  even  then 
the  demand  was  not  fully  met,  for  it  was  no  uncom 
mon  sight  to  see,  in  going  from  tent  to  tent,  from 
one  to  half-a-dozen  lifeless  forms  wrapped  in  their 
blankets,  mutely  pleading  for  burial. 

Not  unfrequently  the  sick  and  wounded  were  oblig 
ed  to  lie  a  long  time  upon  the  ground  in  the  burning 
sun,  before  shelter  could  be  provided.  The  6th  of  the 
month,  a  large  number  belonging  to  the  Ninth  Corps 
were  thus  unsheltered  and  unprotected  from  the  heat 
of  day  and  the  chilling  dews  of  night.  Among  these 
there  was  one  whose  emaciated  form  and  imploring 
look  particularly  attracted  my  attention,  and  seemed 
to  demand  special  aid  and  sympathy.  This  was 
James  E.  Kouse,  a  member  of  the  Michigan  Second. 
Placing  my  umbrella  over  him,  I  finished  distributing 
my  lemonade  and  crackers,  and  then  tried  to  find  a 
vacant  place  in  some  tent  to  which  I  could  remove 
him ;  but  without  success.  The  best  I  could  do  was 
to  make  a  bed  on  the  shady  side  of  one  of  the  tents, 
underneath  the  ropes,  which  I  covered  with  a  shel 
ter-tent.  To  this  he  was  taken,  bathed,  and  provided 
with  clean  clothes.  The  few  days  he  remained  there, 
I  took  him  his  meals  regularly.  A  cup  of  tea  and  a 
few  mouthfuls  of  toast  were  about  all  he  would  take  at 
a  time.  At  length  he  was  removed  into  a  "hospital. 


226  THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

He  still  continued  to  fail,  and  in  a  few  days  he  was 
gone.  But  instead  of  being  sent  to  Washington,  as  I 
was  told,  he  had  been  removed  into  another  tent, 
where  I  found  him  the  evening  before  leaving  the 
place,  dying.  As  I  approached  his  bed — if  bed  it 
could  be  called — he  recognized  me,  and  tried  to  speak, 
but  was  too  far  gone  to  say  much.  A  few"  words 
about  home,  in  which  I  caught  the  words,  "  wife — my 
children,"  were  all  I  could  understand.  Soon  he  be 
came  unconscious,  and  apparently  near  his  end.  Re 
maining  as  long  as  I  could  be  of  any  service,  I  return 
ed  to  my  quarters,  and  called  again  early  next  morn 
ing  to  see  him,  but  he  was  gone.  I  learned  from  the 
nurse  that  he  died  during  the  night,  and  was  already 
buried. 

Sunday,  the  5th,  among  the  many  who  were  brought 
from  the  field,  was  the  body  of  Major  Lewis,  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan  volunteers,  who  fell  mortally  wound 
ed  at  the  battle  of  Coal  Harbor.  Dr.  Fox,  of  the 
same  regiment,  came  in  with  the  body,  and  was  the 
first  to  break  the  heart-rending  news  to  the  widowed 
wife. 

The  coat  in  which  he  fell  was  left  in  my  care, 
and  forwarded  to  her  the  first  opportunity.  Oh !  sad 
reminder  of  bloody  scenes  and  a  hero's  death !  His 
last  words  were  about  wife  and  country.  He  would 
have  her  know  that,  even  in  death,  she  was  not  for- 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  227 

gotten.     "But,"  said  he,  "I  would  live  that  I  might 
serve  my  country  longer" 

"  Rest  on,  embalmed  and  sainted  dead, 

Dear  as  the  bloody  grave ; 
No  impious  footsteps  here  shall  tread 

The  herbage  of  your  grave. 
Nor  shall  your  glory  be  forgot 

While  Fame  her  record  keeps, 
Or  honor  points  the  hallowed  spot 

Where  valor  proudly  sleeps." 

There  was  one  I  cannot  fail  to  mention.  A  noble 
Massachusetts  soldier  was  mortally  wounded,  yet  un 
conscious  of  his  fate,  until  informed  of  it  by  a  Christian 
surgeon,  who  advised  him,  if  he  had  any  accounts  with 
eternity  to  settle,  to  attend  to  them  at  once.  "  What,'' 
he  quickly  replied,  u  am  I  going  to  die?"  He  ap 
peared  greatly  distressed,  for  the  thought  of  death  had 
not  before  entered  his  mind.  Taking  from  under  his 
pillow  photographs  of  a  beautiful-looking  woman  and 
sweet  little  girl — his  wife  and  child — he  looked  at 
them  a  few  moments  with  tear-dimmed  eyes,  and  then 
exclaimed :  "  My  God  !  Can  I  leave  them  ?  Shall  I 
never  see  them  again?  "  Oh,  it  was  hard  for  him  to 
die  and  leave  them,  but  he  never  saw  them  more,  for 
in  a  few  days  he  was  numbered  with  the  "  Boys  in 
White." 

The  10th  inst.,  having  received  a  call  from  Surgeon 


228  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

Bonine — who  was  in  charge  of  the  third  division 
Ninth  Corps  hospital,  situated  at  the  extreme  front — 
for  supplies,  I  sent  an  ambulance  load  of  stores,  con 
sisting  of  canned  fruits  and  meats,  condensed  milk, 
loaf-sugar,  pickles,  lemons,  wine,  brandy,  etc.,  which  I 
drew  from  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions, 
and  to  his  care  they  were  entrusted  for  distribution,  as 
the  appeal  was  for  himself  as  well  as  those  in  his 
charge.  Hear  his  words :  "For  God's  sake,  Julia,  send 
me  something  I  can  eat,  or  I  shall  die." 

Perhaps  there  are  those  who  might  think  I  did 
wrong  in  trusting  to  care  of  a  "  doctor  "  sanitary  stores. 
Now  while  I  would  not,  for  a  moment,  excuse  the 
course  pursued  by  many  army  surgeons  during  the 
war,  in  appropriating  for  their  own  use  articles  de 
signed  only  for  the  sick,  yet  there  were  times  and 
places — especially  during  an  active  campaign — when 
a  faithful  surgeon,  working  night  and  day  among 
scenes  the  most ~ revolting,  needed,  and  was  justly  en 
titled  to,  something  more  than  "hard  tack."  When 
far  from  the  base  of  supplies,  and  not  even  a  sutler  in 
the  army,  money  was  of  little  account.  Let  one  such 
as  Dr.  Bonine  have  fainted  at  his  post  of  duty,  and 
many  lives  would  have  been  sacrificed  in  consequence. 
All  honor  to  surgeons,  as  well  as  to  other  officers  who 
are  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  duty. 

The  llth,  it  was  rumored  that  the  place  was  soon  to 


THE  BOYS   IN  WHITE.  229 

be  evacuated,  and  the  next  morning  an  order  to  that 
effect  was  received ;  accordingly  our  goods  were  pack 
ed,  and  Sunday  afternoon  were  put  into  a  barge  ready 
to  be  sent  to  the  new  "base."  The  wounded  were 
being  removed  as  fast  as  transportation  could  be  pro 
cured,  though  at  this  time  there  were  nearly  two  thou 
sand  not  yet  sent  off;  besides,  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  Dr.  Smith,  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Michigan 
volunteers,  came  in  with  sixty  more,  forty  of  whom 
were  Michigan  men,  and,  therefore,  especially  entitled 
to  our  supplies.  The  doctor  immediately  appealed  to 
us  for  aid ;  but,  our  goods  having  all  been  removed,  he 
applied  to  the  Sanitary  Commission. 

It  having  been  suggested  that  a  part  of  the  Mich 
igan  delegation  should  remain  with  a  portion  of  our 
supplies,  until  all  the  hospitals  were  broken  up,  Mrs. 
Johnson  and  myself  volunteered  to  stay ;  but  it  being 
neither  convenient  nor  thought  best  to  have  any  of  our 
stores  brought  back,  we  applied  to  the  Christian  Com 
mission,  and  obtained  permission  to  draw  on  them; 
but  our  stores  and  cooking-utensils  being  gone,  we 
could  accomplish  but  little,  and,  by  the  request  of  one 
of  the  Sanitary  agents,  went  and  assisted  in  their  low 
diet  kitchen.  Mrs.  J.  finally  concluded  to  go  with 
the  rest  of  our  agents,  who  left  Monday  evening,  the 
13th  inst.,  and  the  next  day,  at  5  p.  M.,  I  went  on 
board  the  steamer  " New  Jersey,"  and  was  soon  sail- 


230  THE    BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

ing  down  the  Pamunkey  on  our  way  to  City  Point, 
leaving,  forever  it  may  be,  "  White  House,"  with  not 
only  its  hundreds  and  thousands  of  its  newly-made 
graves,  but  also  the  many  grass-covered  mounds  of 
McClellan's  braves. 

"Bend  in  love,  O  azure  sky! 

Shine,  O  stars!   at  evening  time. 
Watch  where  heroes  calmly  lie, 
In  their  faith  and  hope  sublime." 

The  ground  occupied  by  our  hospitals  at  this  place 
consists  of  a  large  estate  containing  five  thousand 
acres,  formerly  owned  by  the  widow  Custus,  after 
wards  the  wife  of  George  Washington.  The  mansion, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  was  burned  during  the  war,  and,  at 
the  time  I  was  there,  nothing  remained  to  mark  the 
spot  where  it  stood  except  the  tall  chimneys.  A  few 
days  after  arriving  at  this  our  field  of  labor,  Mrs. 
Plumb,  one  of  our  agents,  returned  to  Washington 
with  a  brother,  whom  she  found  severely  wounded. 
We  regretted  to  lose  her  services,  for  we  had  no  more 
efficient  worker  than  Mrs.  P.  Though  meeting  her 
there  for  the  first  time,  I  soon  learned  to  highly  es 
teem  and  love  her,  as  every  one  must  who  knows  her, 
for  she  is  a  noble  Christian  woman,  just  such  an  one 
as  was  needed  in  the  army.  Another  excellent  lady 
who  came  to  assist  us  in  our  work  was  Mrs.  Gridley, 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  231 

from  Hillsdale,  in  whom  we  found  an  earnest  and 
efficient  laborer — a  lady  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 
Her  two  sons  were  serving  their  country — one  in  the 
army,  the  other  in  the  navy. 

Mrs.  Mahan,  also  of  Hillsdale,  having  volunteered 
her  services,  was  at  this  time  employed  in  "Washing 
ton.  She  remained  about  six  months,  and  returned 
home,  leaving  a  record  bright  with  noble  deeds. 
Among  the  many  from  my  own  State  who  were  en 
gaged  in  the  work  of  caring  for  our  soldiers,  I  know 
of  none  whose  zeal  for  and  devotion  to  the  cause  sur 
passed  that  of  Mrs.  Tunnecliffe  and  Mrs.  Millard, 
wives  of  our  State  agents  in  Washington.  Early  and 
late,  they  might  be  found  either  in  a  crowded  office, 
endeavoring  to  render  assistance  to  the  numerous 
applicants  who  appealed  to  them  for  aid,  or  out  on 
some  errand  of  mercy,  looking  after  the  neglected  and 
those  who  seemed  to  have  no  helper.  One  of  our 
number  —  Mr.  Kitz,  of  Pennsylvania  —  who  was  de 
voted,  soul  and  body,  to  the  cause  he  was  serving, 
has  long  since  ceased  from  his  labors  and  received  his 
reward.  Others  are  scattered  far  and  wide,  no  more, 
perhaps,  to  meet,  until  the  final  "muster-roll"  is 
called. 

It -was  my  pleasure,  while  at  White  House,  fre 
quently  to  meet  that  good  man,  Professor  Estabrook, 
whose  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  suffering  have  caused 


232  THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

bis  name  to  be  cherished  in  thousands  of  homes 
beyond  the  limits  of  our  own  State.  He  is  one  of 
those  of  whom  it  was  said :  "  Ye  are  the  light  of  the 
world." 

We  arrived  at  City  Point,  the  18th.  Had  a  plea 
sant  passage  from  White  House,  though  a  little 
tedious,  as  we  were  delayed  at  Fort  Powhattan,  on 
the  James,  from  Thursday  evening  until  Saturday 
morning,  by  the  army  crossing  the  river  on  pontoons 
a  few  miles  below  us.  On  our  way  we  passed  the 
famous  Eip  Eaps,  where  many  of  our  soldiers  and 
others  were  sentenced,  for  various  crimes,  to  hard 
labor  during  the  war.  The  place  where  that  brilliant 
engagement  between  the  little  Monitor  and  the  iron 
clad  Merrimac  occurred,  March  9th,  1862,  was  pointed 
out  to  us.  The  accommodations  on  the  u  New  Jersey" 
were  good.  All  the  ladies  were  provided  with  comfort 
able  state-rooms ;  but  we  came  to  short  rations  before 
arriving  at  our  place  of  destination,  as  we  divided 
with  some  sick  soldiers  who  were  with  us,  and  were 
delayed  thirty-six  hours. 

A  sad  accident  occurred  about  two  o'clock  the 
morning  after  leaving  White  House,  while  anchored 
in  the  Pamunkey  waiting  for  the  tide.  All  was  still 
as  midnight,  when  suddenly  there  was  heard  a  plunge, 
struggling,  splashing,  and  cries  for  help  from  below. 
At  the  same  instant  several  voices  were  heard  ex- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  233 

claiming,  "  A  man  overboard !  "  A  life-preserver  was 
immediately  thrown  him,  but,  there  being  a  heavy 
mist  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  it  floated  past  him 
unnoticed.  The  incoming  tide  was  rapidly  bearing 
him  away.  I  endeavored,  but  in  vain,  to  throw  him 
my  life-preserver,  by  crowding  it  through  the  small 
window  of  my  state-room  as  he  floated  by.  A  life 
boat  was  lowered  and  two  men  went  in  pursuit ;  soon 
another  boat  followed.  The  poor  fellow's  cries  for 
help  could  still  be  heard.  I  watched  him  out  of  sight, 
and  even  then  I  could  hear  him  call  out,  "  This  way, 
this  way,  gentlemen,  hurry  up ;  I  can't  keep  up  much 
longer;"  and  then  the  reply,  ""We're  coming,  we're 
almost  there,  keep  up  good  courage."  At  length  the 
splashing  of  the  oars  dies  away,  and  the  voices  become 
lainter  and  fainter ;  yet  we  can  still  hear  the  boatmen 
call,  "  Where  are  you  ?  "  and  the  reply,  very  faintly, 
"  Here,  here,  this  way !  "  but  soon  it  ceases,  and  we  all 
wait  in  almost  breathless  silence  for  the  return  of  the 
life-boats.  Soon  we  catch  the  sound  of  the  splashing 
oars,  and  eager  voices  are  heard  asking,  "Did  you 
save  him  ?  "  Our  hearts  almost  cease  to  beat  and 
the  blood  nearly  freezes  in  our  veins  as  we  hear  the  re 
ply,  "  No,  he  went  down  when  we  were  almost  in 
reach  of  him."  Oh,  how  much  harder  for  the  dear 
friends  at  home  to  part  with  him  thus  than  if  he  had 
fallen  in  battle ;  that  they  might  have  expected,  but 


234  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

this  they  were  wholly  unprepared  for.  Landing  c  . 
City  Point,  I  reported  to  Dr.  Dalton,  medical  director, 
but  was  disappointed  in  finding  that  the  rest  of  our 
agents  had  not  yet  arrived,  though  they  left  White 
House  twenty-four  hours  in  advance.  The  cause  of 
the  delay,  however,  we  learned  from  Mrs.  Johnson, 
who  arrived  toward  evening  the  same  day.  There 
had  been  an  order  issued  that  none  of  the  State  Eelief 
Associations  should  be  permitted  to  go  the  new 
"base"  without  permission  from  the  Secretary  of 
War.  Hence  they  had  no  alternative  but  to  remain 
at  Fortress  Monroe  until  they  could  despatch  some 
one  to  Washington  for  the  requisite  passes,  which  de 
layed  them  until  the  22d. 

The  goods  belonging  to  the  Christian  Commission, 
which  were  loaded  in  the  same  barge  with  ours,  were 
removed  to  another  boat,  and  Mrs.  Johnson  came  on 
as  one  of  their  delegates.  While  in  doubt  as  to  what 
course  to  pursue,  being  without  supplies,  we  were 
here,  as  at  White  House,  providentially  provided  for 
by  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Howard  from  Washington  with 
hospital  stores.  Before  morning  the  wounded  began 
to  arrive,  and  with  their  arrival  began  our  work. 
Our  hospitals  were  not  yet  established,  though  the 
location  was  decided  upon.  It  was  situated  about  a 
mile  from  the  Point,  along  the  bank  of  the  Appoma- 
tox ;  and  the  next  day  scores  of  tents  went  up,  which 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  235 

were  soon  filled  with  the  wounded.  Soon  after  land 
ing  at  City  Point  I  was  joyfully  surprised  in  meeting 
an  old  friend— Mr.  Fox,  of  Kalamazoo— a  volunteer 
laborer  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  But  the  great . 
event  of  the  day  was  the  honor  of  a  call  from  General 
Grant,  the  great  American  hero,  who  came  into  our 
tent,  sat  perhaps  twenty  minutes,  conversed  freely 
about  the  war,  and  seemed  to  take  a  great  interest  in 
the  work  in  which  we  were  engaged.  To  the  inquiry 
whether  he  would  be  in  Kichmond  by  the  4th  of 
July,  he  shook  his  head  and  replied,  "  No,  not  by  the 
fourth ;  I  have  not  laid  my  plans  to  that  effect.  I 
shall  go  there ;  I'm  just  as  sure  of  it  as  can  be,  but  we 
have  more  hard  fighting  to  do  first."  He  then  added : 
"I  am  nearly  worn  out,  for  I  have  scarcely  had  a 
day's  rest  since  the  war  began."  Before  leaving  he 
gave  each  of  us  his  autograph,  shook  hands  and  bade 
us  "  good-by."  We  assured  him  he  should  still  have 
our  prayers,  as  he  already  had  our  confidence.  He 
thanked  us,  and  was  gone. 


236  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


MAJOR  BABNES —  HOSPITALS  ESTABLISHED — MRS.  JOHNSON  RE 
TURNS  TO  WASHINGTON — ARRIVAL  OF  MRS.  GIBBS — HEH 
RETURN  WITH  A  WOUNDED  SON — CAVALRY  HOSPITAL — 
AM  TAKEN  SICK  WITH  TYPHOID  FEVER — REV.  MR.  JOSS- 
HOT  WEATHER — A  SEVERE  STORM — LEAVING  CITY  POINT — 
REBEL  OFFICERS — THE  RELAPSE — RETURN  TO  MICHIGAN — 
A  DARK  PERIOD — MY  SISTER'S  BEREAVED  FAMILY — THE 
CALL  OF  DUTY. 

As  I  have  before  stated,  the  rest  of  our  agents,  with 
the  balance  of  our  goods,  arrived  the  22d.  Mrs. 
Brainard,  however,  remained  only  one  night,  having 
received  orders  to  return  to  Washington,  where  her 
services  were  greatly  needed.  Our  work  here  was  so 
similar  to  that  at  White  House,  that  it  is  not  necessary 
to  enter  into  details.  I  will  only  mention  an  instance 
or  two,  and  then  pass  to  a  more  general  account  of  our 
work.  The  day  after  arriving  at  City  Point,  the 
wounded  began  to  come  in  in  large  numbers.  Quite 
early  in  the  morning  a  long  train  of  ambulances  filled 
with  mangled  bodies  arrived,  and  halted  a  short  time, 
until  a  hospital  boat  was  in  readiness  to  receive  them. 
While  busy  at  work,  a  soldier  came  to  me  in  great 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  237 

haste,  and  begged  me  to  go  and  see  his  major,  saying: 
"He  is  dreadfully  wounded."  Leaving  my  work,  I 
accompanied  him.  We  hastily  passed  ambulance 
after  ambulance,  until  it  seemed  as  though,  we  never 
would  reach  the  last  one.  At  length  he  stopped,  and, 
pointing  to  one  of  them,  said,  "He  is  in  that  one." 
Carefully  springing  upon  the  step  at  the  rear  of  the 
ambulance,  and  looking  in,  I  saw  Major  Barnes,  of  the 
Twentieth  Michigan,  lying  by  the  side  of  a  brother  offi 
cer,  who  was  also  badly  wounded.  On  inquiring  what  I 
could  do  for  them,  "  Oh,"  said  Major  B.,  "if  you  could 
only  get  me  out  of  this  ambulance,  for  it  does  seem  as 
though  I  shall  die  if  I  stay  here  much  longer."  I  pro 
mised  to  see  what  could  be  done,  but  found  that  the 
train  would  so  soon  move  to  the  landing,  that  it  was 
thought  best  not  to  make  any  change  until  it  reaches 
its  destination.  I  can  never  forget  the  look  almost  of 
despair  depicted  on  his  countenance  as  I  reported  this, 
for  all  hope  of  recovery  seemed  to  have  left  him.  Still 
anxious  to  do  something  for  him,  I  hurried  back  to 
my  tent,  and  soon  returned  with  a  cup  of  tea  and  a 
pillow.  "Oh,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  drank  the  tea, 
"  that  tastes  so  good."  Placing  the  pillow  under  his 
head,  I  bade  him  be  of  good  cheer,  and,  with  a  heavy 
heart,  stepped  down  from  the  ambulance.  The  train 
moved  on,  and  I  saw  him  no  more.  A  few  days  after, 
I  learned  that  he  died  before  reaching  Washington. 


238  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

Oh !  those  sad  sights !  those  tedious,  toilsome  days ! 
How  glad  we  sometimes  were  to  have  the  darkness  of 
night  hide  from  view  the  revolting  scenes  witnessed  by 
day,  when  the  cooling  breeze  would  fan  fevered  brows 
and  wounds  inflamed,  and  gently  lull  to  sleep.  But 
even  then  the  moans  of  some  poor  sufferer  would 
often  reach  our  ears,  causing  us  to  wish  for  immortal 
bodies,  which  would  neither  wear  out  nor  become 
weary.  But 

"  The  hopes,  the  fears,  the  blood,  the  tears 

That  marked  the  bitter  strife, 

Are  now  all  crowned  by  victory 

That  saved  the  nation's  life." 

Our  hospitals  at  this  place  were  very  extensive. 
The  Second,  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Ninth  Corps  were  large 
ly  represented  in  this  department.  Tents  continued 
to  go  up  until  our  little  canvas  village  assumed  the 
proportions  of  a  city.  The  Cavalry  Corps  also  had  a 
large  hospital  about  two  miles  from  here.  Day  after 
day  the  wounded  came  pouring  in  from  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  so  frequently  occurring.  Cannonading  was 
daily  heard,  frequently •  rapid  and  heavy;  and  oc 
casionally  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  screeching 
of  shells  saluted  our  ears,  while  the  smoke  of  battle 
could  plainly  be  seen,  and  sometimes  even  the  man 
euvering  of  the  troops — thus  mingling  with  our  ar- 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  239 

duous    duties    great    excitement,    and    occasionally 
alarm. 

In  less  than  two  weeks  after  landing  at  City  Point, 
Mrs.  Johnson  left  me  and  returned  to  Washington  for 
a  few  days'  rest.  Mrs.  Gribbs,  a  lady  who  was  devot 
ing  her  time  and  strength  to  the  cause  her  husband 
and  son  were  serving,  arrived  the  day  she  left ;  yet  I 
greatly  missed  her,  for  we  had  worked  together  nearly 
six  weeks.  Her  services,  especially  as  a  "dresser," 
were  invaluable.  Mrs.  GL,  finding  one  of  her  sons 
among  the  wounded,  remained  only  a  week,  and  then 
returned  with  him  to  Washington,  and  I  was  again 
left  alone,  as  far  as  ladies'  help  in  our  own  depart 
ment  was  concerned;  and  yet  I  was  not  alone,  for 
nearly  every  loyal  State  was  there  represented  by 
a  corps  of  faithful  laborers,  all  earnestly  engaged  in 
the  same  noble  work.  Mr.  Howard*  remained  in 
charge  of  the  tents  containing  our  supplies,  and 
worked  with  a  zeal  that  knew  no  respite  until  our 
Association,  having  completed  its  work  at  the  front, 
was  recalled  from  the  field.  While  here  I  frequent 
ly  met  "Bridget,"  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry, 
and  occasionally  "Anna,"  of  the  Third  Infantry, 
whose  services,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the 
surgeons  of  those  regiments,  were  invaluable.  They 

*  He  lias  also  ceased  from  his  labors,     having  died  of  typhoid 
fever  two  years  ago. 


240  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

remained  with  tlieir  respective  regiments  until  the 
close  of  the  war — sharing  the  ever-varying  and  shift 
ing  fortunes  of  the  same. 

I  made  but  one  visit  to  the  Cavalry  Hospital  while 
at  City  Point,  on  account  of  its  long  distance  from  the 
other  hospitals.  It  was  situated  in  a  most  delightful 
place.  A  beautiful  lawn  with  its  green  carpeting 
gradually  sloped  toward  the  river,  which  rolled  peace 
fully  along  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  its  banks  skirted 
with  a  variety  of  trees,  beneath  whose  grateful  shade 
convalescents  reclined,  some  with  books  in  hand,  others 
playing  at  cards,  or  some  other  u  innocent"  amusement, 
to  while  away  the  tedious  hours  of  the  long,  hot  day. 
The  tents  were  the  most  comfortable  of  any  I  ever  saw 
in  the  field.  Each  patient  was  provided  with  a  good 
bed,  not  the  narrow  hospital  cot,  but  what  are  called 
single  beds,  and  furnished  with  mattress,  sheets,  pil 
lows,  and  a  "patched"  quilt,  in  lieu  of  the  coarse 
army  blanket.  The  wards  were  decorated  with  ever 
greens,  and  everything  looked  neat  and  clean.  In 
stead  of  clouds  of  dust,  the  air  was  bright  and  clear. 
Compared  with  our  Infantry  hospitals,  surrounded 
with  sand  and  dust,  it  seemed  like  an  earthly  paradise. 
But,  ainid  all  these  natural  beauties,  many  a  brave 
heart  ceased  to  beat ;  for  Death  sought  out  this  lovely 
retreat,  and  bore  hence  his  victims.  Though  far  more 
comfortable,  the  sick  were  no  better  supplied  with  del- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  241 

icacies  than  those  in  other  hospitals.  Hence  we  di 
vided  our  stores  with  them,  sending,  from  time  to 
time,  such  things  as  they  most  needed. 

While  there  was  so  much  to  be  done,  duties  daily 
increasing,  my  work  for  the  summer  was  rapidly 
drawing  to  a  close.  The  fever  which  had  so  long- 
threatened  me  finally  obtained  the  mastery.  The  6th 
of  July,  I  did  my  last  day's  work  at  that  place. 
From  that  time  until  I  left  City  Point — four  weeks 
later  —  I  was  almost  entirely  confined  to  my  bed. 
During  that  illness  I  learned  from  sad  experience 
how  to  sympathize  with  the  sick  around  me;  but, 
when  comparing  my  condition  with  theirs,  I  found  I 
was  so  much  better  off  than  they,  that  I  had  no  heart 
to  complain.  While  I  had  a  bunk^-narrow  and  hard 
though  it  was — many  of  them  had  none.  My  tent 
could  boast  a  floor,  theirs  could  not.  Besides,  I  was 
daily  supplied  with  ice  and  numerous  other  articles 
which  many  a  poor  soldier  did  not  get.  For  these 
things,  I  was  indebted  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Joss,  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission,  but  for  which,  especially  the 
ice,  I  do  not  think  I  should  now  be  here  to  express 
to  him,  through  these  pages,  my  gratitude.  Though 
having  good  medical  treatment,  I  feel  that,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  I  owe  my  life  to  this  reverend 
gentleman. 

I  have   ever  looked   upon  my  acquaintance  with 


242  TJ'E   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

him  as  strikingly  providential.  While  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  I  was  led  by  the  providence  of  Grod  to  care  for 
a  brother  of  his,  who  was  supposed  to  be  mortally 
wounded,  but  who  finally  recovered,  and,  hearing  of 
my  illness,  directed  this  brother  to  find  me  and  return 
the  favors  shown  Lim.  They  were  returned  an  hun 
dredfold.  Oh !  that  hot,  dusty  July ;  those  long, 
weary  days  and  sleepless  nights;  the  scorching  sun, 
beating  down  upon  my  tent ;  the  swarms  of  flies ;  that 
little  rusty  tin  pail,  out  of  which,  for  the  want  of 
something  better,  I  drank  my  gruel ;  the  heated,  suffo 
cating  atmosphere ;  the  anxiety  to  be  at  work ;  how 
fresh  in  memory! 

As  the  season  advanced,  the  heat  became  more 
intense  and  the  dust  more  intolerable.  The  long 
trains  of  army  wagons  that  were  constantly  moving 
to  and  fro,  only  a  few  rods  from  us,  were  scarcely 
visible,  being  so  completely  enveloped  in  clouds  of 
dust 

On  the  night  of  the  24th,  there  was  a  sudden  and 
most  grateful  change  in  the  weather.  A  heavy  rain 
storm  came  up,  accompanied  with  high  wind  and 
severe  thunder  and  lightning.  It  was  a  gloomy  night, 
yet  full  of  grandeur.  My  tent  swayed  to  and  fro  ir 
the  wind;  bright  flashes  of  lightning  and  almost  Egyp 
tian  darkness  rapidly  succeeded  each  other,  while  the 
crashing  of  thunder  was  far  more  grand  than  any  dis- 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  243 

charge  of  artillery  of  human  invention.  Many  tents 
were  blown  down,  whose  occupants  were  left  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  storm.  When  the  morning 
dawned  we  seemed  to  be  in  a  new  world.  The  air 
was  clear  and  pure,  our  clean  white  tents  glistened  in 
the  sunlight,  the  slow -moving  trains  were  in  full 
view,  the  trees  and  bushes  were  relieved  of  their 
dusty  coats,  and  all  nature,  animate  and  inanimate, 
seemed  to  rejoice. 

The  2d  of  August,  I  left  City  Point,  in  company 
with  Mrs.  Johnson  (who  had  been  with  me  some  ten 
days),  and  was  taken  to  Washington.  On  the  steamer 
— the  "Vanderbilt" — on  which  we  took  passage, 
were  twenty-one  rebel  officers,  prisoners  of  war.  As 
they  frequently  passed  my  window,  I  entered  into 
conversation  with  them.  The  war,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  was  the  subject  discussed;  but  they  all,  with 
one  accord,  acknowledged  the  hopelessness  of  their 
cause,  and  confessed  that  it  would  have  been  better 
had  they  not  appealed  to  the  sword.  They  said  they 
had  no  desire  to  divide  the  Union ;  but  they  thought 
their  "  rights  "  had  been  infringed  upon,  and  for  these 
they  were  fighting.  I  inquired  what  "  rights "  they 
had  lost,  or  had  been  "  infringed  upon."  All  were 
silent  a  moment,  then  one  replied :  "  Our  rights  in 
regard  to  slavery."  The  interference  of  the  North 
with  this  institution  they  believed  to  be  the  cause  of 


244  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

tlie  war ;  and  yet  they  confessed  that,  if  it  were  even 
so,  it  was  no  just  cause  for  declaring  war.  I  never 
conversed  with  a  rebel  who  could  give  an  intelligent 
answer  to  the  questions  concerning  the  loss  of  his 
"  rights,"  but  they  would  invariably  fall  back,  as  a 
last  resort;  upon  the  interference  of  the  North  with 
slavery. 

Arriving  in  "Washington,  I  was  taken  to  the  house 
of  a  lady  widely  known  for  her  labors  of  love  for  the 
soldiers — a  loyal  Washingtonian,  the  only  one  of  her 
family  who  remained  true  to  the  cause  of  freedom 
and  right  during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion.  The 
fatigue  of  the  journey  brought  on  a  relapse,  so  that  I 
was  not  able  to  leave  the  city  for  five  weeks.  I  then 
returned  to  Michigan,  and  remained  through  the 
winter,  recruiting  my  health  and  collecting  money 
for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers. 

I  learned  during  that  illness,  as  I  never  could  in 
health,  how  to  appreciate  the  gratitude  so  often  mani 
fested  by  soldiers,  even  for  trifling  favors.  I  can  now 
understand  the  feelings  expressed  by  a  wounded  sol 
dier  in  a  letter  received  from  him  since  the  close  of 
the  war,  in  which  he  asks  if  I  remember  the  flowers  I 
gave  him  while  in  a  hospital  at  Fredericksburg ;  and 
then  spoke  of  the  good  they  did  him,  and  the  tears 
he  shed  over  them.  "  Why,"  he  added,  "  for  a  while 
they  caused  me  to  forget  my  pain,  and  I  felt  a  renew- 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  245 

ed  courage  to -bear  my  sufferings  more  bravely,  for  to 
me  they  were  a  token  of  sympathy,  and  I  felt  that  I 
was  not  forgotten."  As  I  perused  this  letter,  how 
vividly  I  recalled  a  little  incident  that  occurred  in  my 
own  experience,  while  sick  at  City  Point.  One  after 
noon,  Dr.  Smith,  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry, 
brought  me  a  bunch  of  beautiful  wild-flowers,  most 
delicately  tinted.  I  had  not  seen  a  flower,  or  scarcely 
a  green  leaf  or  a  spire  of  grass  for  weeks  before,  which 
caused  "them  to  be  the  more  fully  appreciated.  Oh, 
how  many  times  during  those  lonely  hours  they  were 
as  a  friend  to  me,  with  whom  I  conversed ;  and  often 
times  tears  would  unbidden  start  as  I  gazed  upon 
their  loveliness,  for  of  all  the  beautiful  things  in  this 
beautiful  world,  they  alone  adorned  my  "  canvas 
home."  They  were  placed  in  a  cup  by  my  bed,  where 
they  remained  until  they  began  to  wither,  and  their 
little  petals  to  fall  off;  then  I  pressed  them  in  my 
Bible,  and  I  still  cherish  them  as  sweet  mementoes 
from  a  fragrant  oasis  in  that  sandy  desert. 

The  simplest  favor  was  sometimes  most  blessed  in 
its  results.  The  following  I  had  entirely  forgotten  until 
reminded  of  it  by  the  soldier  long  after  lie  was  mus 
tered  out  of  the  service.  The  summer  of  1864,  while 
in  a  hospital  at  White  House  landing,  he  had  a  severe 
attack  of  neuralgia.  As  I  was  passing  one  day  through 
the  ward  in  which  he  was  lying,  he  inquired  if  I  knew 


246  THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE 

of  anything  that  would  relieve  him.  I  recommended 
something — I  do  not  remember  what — which  I  pro 
mised  to  bring  him  the  next  day ;  but  when,  returning 
to  my  quarters,  I  began  to  think  of  his  sufferings,  and 
his  look  of  appeal  for  help,  I  could  not  rest  until  my 
remedy  had  been  tried.  Though  nearly  night,  and 
more  than  half  a  mile  distant,  I  returned  with  the  me 
dicine,  bathed  his  face,  gave  directions  for  its  use,  and 
left  him  with  the  assurance  that  it  would  help  him.  I 
never  saw  him  again,  until  the  time  to  which  'I  refer, 
when  he  called  my  mind  to  this  circumstance.  "  Oh," 
said  he,  "that  medicine  acted  like  a  charm;  it  effected 
a  perfect  cure ;  for  from  that  hour  neuralgia  and  I 
parted  friendship." 

The  summer  of  1864  was  a  dark  period — perhaps 
the  darkest  in  the  history  of  the  rebellion.  Thou 
sands,  yea,  tens  of  thousands  of  lives  were  sacrificed 
at  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  Coal 
Harbor,  and  those  in  the  vicinity  of  Petersburg,  seem 
ingly  to  little  or  no  purpose ;  yet  they  all  had  refer 
ence  to  the  grand  result  soon  to  be  achieved.  The 
terrific  explosion  of  the  30th  of  July  was  distinctly 
heard  at  our  quarters,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  Among 
the  many  who  fell  upon  that  fearful  day,  was  the  eld 
est  son  of  Kev.  Alfred  Cornell,  of  Ionia — an  exemp 
lary,  Christian  young  man,  whose  life  was  full  of  pro 
mise.  But  as  "Death  loves  a  shining  mark/'  one  of 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  247 

his  deadly  shafts  was  aimed  at  him.  The  object  of 
those  weeks  of  mining  was  not  obtained ;  Petersburg 
was  not  taken,  Eichmond  was  lost,  and  our  starving 
soldiers  must  wait  many  more  long  months  before  the 
day  of  their  release  dawns.  Oh!  how  many  times 
during  war's  dark  hours  we  felt  like  exclaiming, 

"  The  dead  are  everywhere ! 

The  mountain-side,  the  plain,  the  wood  profound, 
All  the  wide  earth,  the  fertile  and  the  fair, 
Is  one  vast  burying  -  ground ! " 

But  we  are  comforted  with  the  thought  that  they 
died  not  in  vain.  No, 

"They  have  fallen,  they  have  fallen, 

In  the  battles  of  the  free, 
And  their  fame  will  be  remembered 

In  the  ages  yet  to  be. 
******* 
"  They  have  fallen,  they  have  fallen, 

In  a  high  and  holy  cause, 
Fighting  for  our  starry  banner, 

For  our  country  and  its  laws ; 
For  the  glorious  cause  of  freedom, 

For  the  land  our  fathers  loved; 
For  the  rights,  which,  spite  of  sceptres, 

Man  proclaimed  and  God  approved. 

"They  have  fallen,  they  have  fallen, 

In  the  fierceness  of  the  strife, 
Leaving  us  to  bear  the  battle, 
And  the  burden  of  this  life; 


2i8  THE   130 YS   IN    AVJIITE. 

While  their  disembodied  spirits 
Wing  tlieir  way  to  realms  above, 

Where  they  sing  their  songs  of  triumph 
Round  the  great  white  throne  of  love." 

The  following  is  the  amount  of  money  collected 
while  in  Michigan,  in  the  winter  of  1865: 

Proceeds  Children's  Fair,     .     Kalamazoo,     .  $10  35 

Soldier's  Aid  Society,  .        .     South  Jackson,  4  00 

Proceeds  Oyster  Supper,      .                    "  50  00 

.    Muir,       .        .  75  00 

«              «            «            .     Salem,     .        .  43  85 
Collection,  Baptist  Church, .         "          .        .  26  15 
Cash,  Pontiac.     By  request,  name  not  given,  10  00 
Social,  Ionia,  including  a  few  individual  con 
tributions,  60  70 

Proceeds  Oyster  Supper,            Northfield,       .  25  35 

«         Tableaux,       .        .    Galesburg,       .  25  00 

"               "               .        .    Chelsea,  .        .  37  00 

Collection,  Episcopal  Church,    Ann  Arbor,      .  23  35 

«         Dutch  M.E.  Church,    "        "           .  '2  75 

From  Brighton, 5  00 

Individual  contributions,          .        .        .        .  1  50 

Total,       ,        .      '  .     .  .        .        $400  00 

In  regard  to  the  children's  fair  here  mentioned, 
I  would  say  that  it  was  held  by  only  three  little 
children,  viz. :  Ella  May,  Frank  and  Ida  Knappin. 
The  weather  was  cold  and  rainy,  but  they  did  not 
mind  the  cold,  for  their  hearts  were  in  their  work. 
The  tableaux  at  Chelsea  were  gotten  up  almost 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  249 

entirely  through  the  earnest  efforts  of  Miss  Josie  Majjr 
and  Miss  White,  who,  I  believe,  have  never  before 
had  credit  therefor. 

Had  I  begun  my  work  of  collecting  a  little  earlier, 
before  the  holiday  season  was  over,  during  which  fairs 
had  been  held,  and  various  other  means  employed 
to  raise  money,  I  might  have  doubled,  and  perhaps 
tripled  the  amount  collected ;  for  nearly  every  place 
I  visited  I  was  met  with,  "Why  didn't  you  come 
sooner  ?  A  week  or  two  earlier,  and  we  might  have 
raised  twice  as  much  as  we  now  can."  But  if  the 
money  only  went  for  the  desired  object,  it  mattered 
little  through  what  channel  it  was  conveyed.  I  would 
take  this  opportunity  to  acknowledge  publicly  the 
receipt  of  thirty  dollars  from  friends  in  Muir  and 
vicinity,  ten  from  South  Jackson,  and  twenty  from 
Salern,  besides  a  few  dollars  from  individual  persons 
as  a  present  to  myself.  I  here  renew  my  thanks  to 
each  and  every  donor  ;  for  it  was  only  through  occa 
sional  donations  of  this  kind  that  I  was  enabled  to 
continue  my  work  so  long.  One  of  my  former  teach 
ers  at  Kalamazoo,  to  whom  I  was  indebted  thirty 
dollars  for  money  hired  while  in  school,  kindly  took 
up  the  note,  thus  relieving  me  of  all  anxiety  of  how 
that  debt,  though  small,  was  to  be  paid. 

I  know  of  no  better  way  than  through  the  pages 
of  this  little  book  to  notify  the  members  of  the  Twcn- 


250  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

ty-sixth  regiment  of  Michigan  Infantry  of  the  beauti 
ful  gold  watch,  with  chain,  pin,  and  corps  badge,  pur 
chased  with  the  money  so  generously  donated  by 
themselves  in  the  spring  of  1864.  It  is  handsomely 
engraved  with  name,  date,  and  regiment.  To  me  it 
has  a  value  far  exceeding  its  intrinsic  worth,  for  many 
of  those  represented  in  the  gift  are  now  "  sweetly  em 
balmed  and  hid  away  in  white."  Those  who  survive 
will  please  accept  the  gratitude  of  the  recipient,  by 
whom  their  memory  will  ever  be  sacredly  cherished. 

I  returned  to  Washington  via  Harbor  Creek,  Penn., 
where  I  visited  the  bereaved  family  of  my  sister  who 
died  the  previous  October.  Had  I  consulted  my  own 
ease  or  pleasure,  I  should  have  yielded  to  the  earnest 
entreaties  of  those  motherless  boys,  and  remained  with 
them  while  their  loss  was  so  fresh  in  memory  and  so 
keenly  felt ;  but  duty  pointed  her  finger  to  the  thou 
sands  of  sick  and  wounded  in  our  hospitals,  many  of 
whom,  like  themselves,  were  boys  in  their  teens,  hav 
ing  been  tenderly  reared,  each  one  some  mother's  dar 
ling  or  some  father's  fond  hope,  far  from  home  and  its 
comforts,  their  young  lives  going  out  one  after  an 
other  in  those  distant  hospitals,  in  the  camp  or  on  the 
field  of  carnage — and  I  could  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
her  call.  Fifty  dollars  more,  contributed  by  friends 
in  Harbor  Creek  for  soldiers,  were  added  to  the 
amount  collected  in  Michigan. 


THE  BOYS  IN   WHITE.  251 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


FALL  OF  RICHMOND — SURRENDER  OF  LEE — MY  RETURN  TO  WASH 
INGTON—THE  ILLUMINATION — THE  ASSASSINATION  OP  THE 
PRESIDENT — HIS  REMAINS  IN  STATE — FUNERAL  OBSEQUIES 

THOUGHTS  AND  REFLECTIONS  UPON  HIS  LIFE  AND  MANY 

VIRTUES — HOSPITAL  WORK  IN  WASHINGTON,  ALEXANDRIA 
AND  SURROUNDING  CAMPS — THE  ARMY  RECALLED — THE 
MICHIGAN  "HOME" — TRIP  TO  BALTIMORE  AND  ANNAPOLIS 

HOSPITAL  DISCONTINUED — THE  GRAND  REVIEW — CLOSING 

REFLECTIONS. 

I  ARRIVED  in  Washington  the  evening  of  the  13th 
of  April,  the  night  before  that  great  national  calamity, 
the  assassination  of  our  beloved  President 

The  evening  of  my  arrival  there  was  a  grand  illumi 
nation  of  the  city  in  honor  of  our  recent  victories, 
which  resulted  in  the  fall  of  Kichmond,  the  surrender 
of  Lee,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  rebellion. 

Lights  gleamed  from  nearly  every  window— ^the 
White  House  was  beautifully  illuminated  and  gaily 
decorated  with  the  stars  and  stripes — numerous  small 
flags  floated  from  the  windows,  while  larger  ones  were 
festooned  over  the  doors  or  proudly  waved  from  lofty 
flag-staffs.  0  ye  starry  emblems  of  liberty,  what 
rivers  of  blood  it  has  cost  to  maintain  your  honor  I 


252  THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE. 

The  stately  Capitol,  with  its  myriads  of  lights  blaz 
ing  from  its  windows  and  surrounded  with  brilliant 
transparencies,  looked  indeed  like  a  "  city  set  upon  a 
hill,  whose  light  cannot  be  hid."  The  streets  were 
thronged  with  admiring  spectators.  The  President, 
with  the  General-in-chief  of  our  armies,  rode  up  and 
down  Pennsylvania  avenue — alas!  for  the  last  time 
together — rejoicing  that  the  dove  had  at  last  returned 
to  the  ark  with  the  olive  branch  of  peace.  Every 
loyal  heart  beat  high  with  hope,  not  only  at  the  na 
tional  capital,  but  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  our  land.  The  voice  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
ascended  to  Him,  who,  ruling  among  the  nations  of 
the  earth,  as  well  as  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  had 
crowned  the  cause  of  right  with  victory. 

Mothers  wept  for  joy  for  the  "  dear  boys "  who 
would  soon  "come  marching  home."  Wives  with 
anxious  hearts  anticipated  the  moment  when  they 
should  welcome  their  heroic  husbands7  return.  Chil 
dren  waited  impatiently  to  hear  "  father's  "  well-known 
footstep.  Even  those  who  had  not  nothing  to  expect, 
whose  dear  ones  were  numbered  with  the  slain,  shared 
in  the  general  joy. 

All  were  happy — the  white  man  that  the  war  was 
over,  the  black  man  that  he  was  free.  But  this  re 
joicing  is  of  short  continuance.  Treason  calls  for  an 
other  victim — the  country's  foremost  man  and  best. 


THE   BOYS  IN  WHITE.  253 

"While  the  children  rejoice,  the  father  himself  is 
stricken  down.  The  nation's  life  is  sealed  with  the 
blood  of  its  martyr  head !  The  fruit  of  those  long 
years  of  toil  will  be  reaped  by  others.  The  work  for 
which  he  was  raised  up  being  accomplished,  he  enters 
into  his  rest;  and  this  almost  universal  rejoicing  is 
succeeded  by  a  world- wide  grief.  On  the  night  of  the 
14th  an  assassin  commits  the  dark  and  villainous  deed 
that  plunges  the  nation  into  the  deepest  woe!  The 
next  morning,  at  twenty-two  minutes  past  seven,  the 
solemn  tolling  of  bells  announces  the  death  of  Abra 
ham  Lincoln ! 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  my  journal  of 
April  15th,  1865:  "Soon  the  sad  tidings  will  be 
borne  with  the  speed  of  lightning  to  the  remotest 
part  of  our  country  and  of  the  civilized  world. 
The  wild  excitement  which  might  be  expected  seems 
hushed  to  silence  for  want  of  words  to  express  the 
deep  emotions  which  stir  the  heart  Many  anticipate 
a  riot  before  morning.  Strict  orders  have  been  issued 
from  the  "War  Department,  death  being  the  penalty  of 
a  traitorous  sentiment  uttered.  No  one  is  allowed  to 
leave  or  enter  the  city.  Trains  have  stopped  running, 
except  for  the  mail ;  boats  can  neither  land  at  nor 
leave  the  wharf. 

"J.  Wilkes  Booth — a  stage-actor — is  supposed  to 
be  the  murderer.  A  large  reward  has  been  offered  for 


254  THE   BOYS   TN"   WHITE. 

liis  arrest.  If  lie  is  caught  during  the  present  state 
of  excitement,  the  law  will  be  robbed  of  its  due,  for 
the  cry  of  every  loyal  heart  is :  l  Avenge  the  death 
of  our  President.'  Washington,  so  recently  decor 
ated  with  flags,  is  now  draped  in  mourning;  those 
starry  banners,  but  yesterday  so  proudly  floating  in 
the  breeze,  now  droop  at  half-mast,  and  are  wearing 
the  emblems  of  woe.  Only  last  evening  the  country 
was  bewildered  with  joy ;  to-day  the  nation  is  bowed 
with  a  sorrow  so  great  'that  the  huge  earth  can  scarce 
support  it.'  All  nature  mourns.  Even  the  elements 
seem  to  share  in  the  general  gloom.  Darkening  clouds 
fill  the  heavens,  and  water  the  earth  with  their  tears. 
Oh,  can  we  believe  that  this  black  cloud  which  hangs 
over  our  national  horizon  has  a  '  silver  lining  ? '  Has 
this  dark  picture  a  bright  side  ?  No  ray  of  sunshine 
is  seen  on  its  gloomy  background.  In  the  death  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  the  country  has  sustained  an  irre 
parable  loss.  His  place  none  can  ever  fill.  A  great 
and  good  man  has  fallen.  In  him  were  exemplified 
the  true  principles  of  Christianity  :  he  was  kind,  mer 
ciful,  forgiving,  and  generous  to  a  fault.  How  truth 
fully  has  it  been  said,  that  *  he  was  great  in  goodness, 
and  good  in  greatness.'  Oh,  how  cruel !  after  four 
years  of  trial  and  burden,  such  as  none  other  ever 
bore,  that  Treason  should  take  his  precious  life ;  but 
he  lived  to  see  that  victory,  final  and  complete,  had 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  255 

perched  upon  our  banner.     If  life  consists  in  deeds, 
not  years,  how  few  have  lived  as  long  as  he." 

*****  * 

It  was  my  sad  privilege  to  see  the  remains  of  our 
lamented  President  twice  while  lying  in  state — once 
at  the  White  House,  and  again  at  the  Capitol.  Em 
blems  of  mourning  were  everywhere  visible.  Dark 
ened  rooms,  with  gas  dimly  burning,  added  to  the 
oppressive  gloom.  Suppressed  sobs  and  bursts  of 
grief  were  heard,  as  one  after  another  took  the  fare 
well  look  of  him  they  loved.  Strong  men,  unaccus 
tomed  to  tears,  wept  beside  his  bier. 

He  was  stricken  down  in  the  midst  of  his  useful 
ness,  at  a  time  when  the  nation  greatly  needed  his 
wise  counsels  and  righteous  administration. 

His  funeral  obsequies  were  observed  in  "Washing 
ton,  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant.  The  solemnities 
of  the  occasion  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  ;  that 
has  already  been  done  by  abler  pens.  That  long  pro 
cession,  consisting  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery, 
with  various  bands ;  the  Marine  Corps  and  band ;  offi 
cers  of  the  arrny  and  navy;  Congressmen;  members 
of  the  Cabinet;  the  Diplomatic  Corps;  various  orders 
and  lodges;  Governors  of  States;  the  clergy,  of  all 
denominations ;  clerks  from  the  different  departments, 
and  thousands  of  private  citizens,  all  wearing  the 
badge  of  mourning  ;  flags  and  banners,  draped  and  at 


256  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

half-mast;  the  dirge-like  music;  the  tolling  of  bells 
and  firing  of  guns — rendered  it  the  most  solemn  scene 
ever  witnessed  on  this  continent.  None  but  an  eye 
witness  can  form  any  adequate  conception  of  that 
solemn  pageantry.  Thousands  thronged  the  side 
walks,  windows,  verandahs ;  and  trees  were  filled 
with  weeping  spectators. 

The  morning  of  the  21st,  the  remains  were  removed 
to  Baltimore,  en  route  for  his  Western  home  and  final 
resting-place.  The  busy  world  moves  on,  and,  though 
we  see  his  face  no  more,  he  will  long  live  in  the 
memory  of  a  grateful  people.  History  will  love  to 
record  his  virtues.  His  name  will  be  handed  down 
to  future  generations,  linked  with  that  of  Washington, 
"  and  many  iwll  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed." 

Well  has  it  been  said,  that,  "  in  the  death  of  Abra 
ham  Lincoln,  the  world  has  lost  its  greatest  philan 
thropist,  the  nation  its  purest  patriot,  the  people  their 
Lest  and  kindest  friend.  His  life  was  the  brightest 
page  in  our  country's  history,  his  death  the  nation's 
deepest  sorrow."  But  he  has  left  a  bright  reoord. 
Oh !  that  all,  not  only  as  a  nation,  but  as  individuals, 
might  emulate  his  example,  cultivate  his  virtues,  live 
for  Grod  and  humanity  as  did  Abraham  Lincoln.  "  He 
lived  not  only  for  a  day,  but  for  all  time.  His  life 
was  gentle,  his  death  peaceful,  his  future  all  glory." 

In  referring  to  my  journal,  I   find,  under  date  of 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  257 

April  21st,  the  following:  "One  week  ago  to-niglit 
the  assassin's  hand  was  imbued  in  innocent  blood, 
and,  a  few  hours  later,  the  great  heart  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  forever  grew  still !  This  is,  surely,  a  myste 
rious  dispensation  of  God's  providence,  and  we  are 
led  to  ask,  *  Oh,  Lord !  why  was  it  ?  '  Yet,  while  we 
mourn,  it  becometh  us  to  bow  in  submission  to  Him 
who  knoweth  the  end  from  the  beginning,  and, 
though  he  has  permitted  this  wicked  deed,  we  know 
that  '  he  is  too  wise  to  err ; '  that  he  '  worketh  all 
things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will,'  causing 
even  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him." 

I  will  here  give  an  extract — which  seems  so  appro 
priate — taken  from  an  oration  delivered  by  Senator 
Foot  on  the  death  of  Senator  Collamar,  both  of  Yer- 
mont,  and  both  now  no  more :  "  Abraham  Lincoln — 
clarum  nomen — the  poor  Kentucky  boy,  the  martyr 
President,  who  had  saved  a  country  and  redeemed  a 
race — the  martyr  President,  who,  having  saved  his 
country  from  the  greatest  rebellion  of  all  history, 
and  redeemed  a  race  from  the  bondage  of  centuries, 
falling  by  the  assassin  hand  of  Treason,  went  down 
to  the  grave  amid  a  nation's  tears,  and  amid  a  na 
tion's  requiem  of  wailing,  yet  bearing  with  him  to 
the  tomb  more  of  the  world's  affections,  more  of  its 
sympathy,  and  more  of  its  honors,  too,  than  were 
ever  accorded  to  other  man,  or  prince,  or  potentate 


258  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

of  earth,  and  whose  highest  eulogium  is  spoken  in 
the  universal  lamentation." 

There  was  no  time  during  the  war  that  I  experi 
enced  more  fatigue  in  my  work  than  the  last  three 
months.  The  reason,  perhaps,  was,  that  I  had  not 
fully  regained  my  strength  after  my  sickness  at  City 
Point.  Then  our  hospitals  were  so  scattered — several 
of  them  being  situated  in  the  extreme  limits  of  the 
city — some  of  which  were  immensely  large,  contain 
ing  from  seventy  to  eighty  wards.  Besides  these, 
there  were  two  extensive  hospitals  in  Alexandria, 
viz. :  Sough  and  Sickles'  barracks.  All  the  hospi 
tals  in  that  place  were  merged  in  these  two.  Then 
there  was  Fairfax  Seminary,  and  a  large  hospital  at 
Camp  Stoneman. 

The  field  was  large,  but,  with  large  supplies  to 
draw  from,  and  a  well-filled  treasury,  we  were  ena 
bled  to  accomplish  a  good  work.  About  the  middle 
of  April,  our  Association  established  a  "  Home "  for 
the  benefit  of  Michigan  soldiers.  Here  a  large  num 
ber  were  daily  fed,  and  many  of  them  supplied  with 
tobacco,  stationery,  etc.  Our  expenses  were  necessa 
rily  increased,  and  I  hope  the  additional  good  ac 
complished  more  than  compensated  for  the  extra  ex 
pense  ;  but  I  have  always  felt  that  more  good  would 
have  been  done  had  all  our  means  gone  to  the  di 
rect  relief  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  our  hospitals 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  259 

and  the  surrounding  camps.  That  good  was  accom 
plished  by  the  establishment  of  the  "  Home,"  no  one 
can  deny;  but  that  more  would  have  been  done 
without  it,  I  firmly  believe. 

Early  in  May,  the  Association  purchased  a  horse 
and  buggy,  which  greatly  facilitated  my  work,  and 
enabled  me  to  accomplish  much  more,  with  less  fa 
tigue,  than  before. 

Not  long  after  this  Mrs.  Brainard  returned  from  her 
work  at  the  front.  Washington  was  assigned  her,  and 
I  was  sent  to  Baltimore.  I  left  my  field  of  labor  not 
without  many  regrets,  for  I  had  tried  so  hard  to  get 
my  work  reduced  to  anything  like  system,  that  I  was 
loth  to  leave  it ;  besides,  the  army  of  the  Potomac  had 
been  recalled.  Sherman's  troops  were  arriving;  our 
hospitals  were  receiving  every  day  new  accessions  to 
our  already  large  numbers,  and  it  did  seem  to  me  that 
Washington  was  the  very  place  where  the  greatest 
good  could  be  done  ;  but  it  was  thought  best  for  me 
to  go,  for  a  few  days  at  least,  and  I  did  so.  There 
were  only  five  hospitals  there  at  that  time — one  having 
been  discontinued  a  few  days  before  my  arrival,  and 
two  others  soon  after.  I  found  about  fifty  Michigan 
soldiers  in  these  hospitals,  all  of  whom,  except  four, 
were  convalescent.  After  supplying  the  wants  of  these. 
I  went  to  Annapolis,  visited  St.  John's  hospital— the 
only  one  there  at  that  time— where  I  found  but  two 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

Michigan  soldiers,  who  were  considered  to  be  in  a  dan 
gerous  situation.  One  of  these  was  sick  with  small 
pox,  and  the  other  badly  wounded  in  both  hips. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  great  demand  among  the  conva 
lescents  and  paroled  prisoners  for  tobacco,  which  I 
supplied  them,  also  with  stationery,  and  such  articles 
of  clothing  as  each  was  needing;  besides  giving  to 
those  without  money  a  few  shillings  a  piece. 

I  returned  to  Baltimore  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  without  stopping  at  the  camp  of  paroled  prisoners 
as  I  had  designed,  for  the  rain  was  falling  almost  in 
torrents  when  the  train  passed  through  the  carnp ;  con 
sequently  my  contemplated  visit  to  those  poor  paroled 
prisoners  was  never  made — something  I  shall  ever 
look  back  upon  with  regret.  At  Baltimore,  I  made 
another  tour  through  the  hospitals,  distributing  sundry 
articles,  which  I  promised  at  my  former  visit,  and  then 
returned  to  Washington,  Avhere  a  certain  number  of 
hospitals  were  assigned  me  as  my  special  field  of  la 
bor;  yet  I  did  not  confine  myself  entirely  to  these, 
but  made  several  visits  to  the  surrounding  camps  with 
supplies,  not  only  for  those  sick  in  the  regimental  hos 
pitals,  but  also  in  their  quarters.  Soon  the  hospitals 
in  the  city  began  to  be  broken  up,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  month  of  June,  several  were  entirely  dis 
continued.  I  can  never  efface  from  memory  the  feel 
ings  of  loneliness  experienced  in  passing  through  those 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

empty  hospitals.  Each  ward  seemed  like  a  haunted 
house,  where  the  spirits  of  the  departed  still  lingered. 
How  suggestive  even  the  number  of  these  barracks  or 
tents,  many  of  which  would  bring  to  mind  vivid  recol 
lections  of  painful  scenes  therein  witnessed.  In  one, 
even  now,  I  see  the  wasting  form  of  Cyrus  Cobb:  a 
severe  wound  is  sapping  the  very  fountain  of  life ;  all 
his  bright  dreams  of  home,  of  that  dear  mother  he  so 
loved,  and  of  whom  he  daily  spoke,  of  other  kindred 
and  loved  ones,  of  future  plans  and  prospects,  vanish 
at  the  approach  of  death ;  but  we  trust  he  has  entered 
a  better  than  any  earthly  home — even  an  heavenly. 
Near  his  cot  I  see  a  lingering  consumptive — a  Mary 
land  soldier — the  unnatural  brilliancy  of  whose  eye 
admonishes  us  all  that  the  time  of  his  departure  is  at 
hand. 

In  another  ward  lies  one,  whose  beaming  coun 
tenance  indicates  peace  with  God.  The  amputating 
knife  has  removed  the  shattered  limb,  but  it  avails 
nothing.  When  asked  concerning  his  future  pros 
pects,  "  all  bright,"  is  his  cheerful  answer.  Soon  there 
is  another  vacant  bed,  and  the  brother  returns  with 
the  remains,  sad  and  lonely,  to  his  home  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  while  the  departed  one  sweetly  sleeps  in  Jesus. 
Here  too  is  another  who  has  given  his  strong  right 
arm  for  his  country ;  he  is  convalescing,  and  is  antici 
pating  a  speedy  return  home.  But  the  fatal  fever 


262  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

seizes  him,  and,  in  a  few  days,  William  McCorrnick  is 
no  more.  Thus  I  might  continue  to  enumerate  such 
instances  for  nearly  every  ward  in  our  hospitals,  but 
the  memory  of  them  is  too  painful.  It  is  like  living 
over  again  those  days  of  sad  experiences. 

"  Through  all  rebellion's  horrors, 

Bright  shines  our  nation's  fame ; 
Our  gallent  soldiers,  perishing, 
Have  left  a  deathless  name." 

The  grand  review  of  the  army  took  place  on  the 
23d  and  24th  of  May.  It  was  estimated  that  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  thousand  (150,000)  troops  passed  in 
review.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle — a  sight  never 
before  and  never  again  to  be  witnessed  on  this  conti 
nent 

Those  gallant  officers  in  full  military  uniform, 
mounted  upon  prancing  steeds,  galloping  up  the 
broad  avenue ;  the  admiring  crowd  showering  both 
horse  and  rider  with  beautiful  wreaths  and  bouquets ; 
the  graceful  salute  a  la  militaire  ;  the  throwing  up  oi 
hats,  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  the  loud  huzzas 
that  rent  the  air,  made  it  an  exciting  scene.  There 
was  General  U.  S.  Grant,  the  calm,  self-possessed, 
heroic  soldier,  whose  brow  was  crowned  with  the 
wreath  of  victory  bravely  won  on  a  hundred  battle 
fields.  There,  too,  was  General  Sherman,  the  in  vine;- 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  263 

ble,  who  lias  yet  to  learn  the  meaning  of  the  word 
defeat,  and  whose  great  "  March  to  the  Sea  "  has  won 
the  applause  of  an  admiring  world.  The  brave  and 
gallant  Meade,  who  so  long  and  well  commanded  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  and  who  hastened  the  over 
throw  of  the  rebellion  by  turning  the  tide  of  battle  at 
Gettysburg,  was  among  the  number.  The  hero  of 
Winchester — General  Phil.  Sheridan — too,  was  there ; 
also  that  great  cavalry  rider,  General  Kilpatrick, 
with  a  corps  of  subordinate  officers — among  them  our 
own  Ouster,  of  whom  we  have  been  so  proud.  There 
was  General  Burnside,  the  noble,  generous  soldier, 
whose  heroisms  never  shone  on  the  victorious  field 
with  a  brighter  lustre  than  after  the  defeat  at  Fred- 
ericksburg;  who,  when  efforts  were  being  made  to 
exonerate  him  from  all  blame,  manfully  stepped  forth, 
and,  with  a  moral  heroism  less  human  than  divine, 
confessed  to  the  world  that  he  alone  was  responsible 
for  that  defeat,  acknowledged  his  inability  to  com 
mand  so  large  an  army,  and  humbly  asked  to  be 
relieved  and  assigned  to  a  subordinate  position. 
Afterwards,  the  old  Ninth  Corps,  under  his  victorious 
leadership,  covered  itself  with  glory  and  honor.  But, 
"in  that  bright  constellation  of  noble  heroes,"  none 
shone  with  a  purer  radiance — though  perhaps  with  • 
greater  brilliancy  —  than  that  one-armed  Christian 
soldier,  Major- General  O.  0.  Ho  ward. 


L'Gi  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

"  0  soldier  with  the  empty  sleove, 
The  nation  gives  you  blessing, 
And  woman's  hand  shall  keep  for  you 
Its  tenderest  caressing." 

The  navy  was  likewise  largely  represented  by  offi 
cers  of  different  rank,  foremost  among  whom  was 
Admiral  Farragut — once  "  lashed  to  the  mast."  The 
first  day,  the  army  of  the  Potomac — those  heroes  of 
so  many  battles — passed  in  review ;  the  next,  Sher 
man's  grand  columns.  It  would  seem  impossible  for 
one  to  look  back  upon  those  war-worn  veterans,  those 
battle-scarred  heroes,  whose  trusty  swords,  wielded  by 
strong  arms,  had  gotten  us  the  victory  and  saved  the 
life  of  the  Eepublic,  and  hear  their  stately  "tramp, 
tramp,  tramp,"  for  six  successive  hours,  causing  the 
earth  to  tremble  beneath  their  firm  tread,  proudly 
bearing  aloft  their  tattered  banners,  under  which 
they  had  fought  and  their  comrades  fallen,  without 
his  heart  swelling  with  emotions  of  deep  gratitude  and 
his  eyes  becoming  dim  with  tears.  Neither  the  ser 
vices  nor  the  hardships  of  the  soldiers  can  ever  be  fully 
appreciated  or  estimated.  Oh!  those  long  fatiguing 
marches  —  the  lonely  picket  post — the  cold,  damp 
bivouac — the  scorching  heat — the  weary  months  spent 
in  hospital — the  loath esome  confinement  in  prison- 
pens,  those  ante-chambers  of  hell,  compared  to  which 
the  meanest  jail  or  penitentiary  or  almshouse  was  a 


TIIE   BOYS   IN   WHITE.  265 

paradise,  and  the  exchange  would  have  been  hailed 
with  far  great  joy  than  was  the  fairy  isle  of  Calipso  by 
the  wrecked  Telemaque,  but  the  escape  from  which 
was  a  thousandfold  more  difficult  than  his  from  this 
enchanted  isle  I 

In  retrospecting  the  past,  I  find  conflicting  emotions 
alternately  taking  possession  of  my  heart,  emotions 
both  of  joy  and  sorrow.  There  are  many  pleasant 
remembrances  connected  with  my  "  army  life;"  but, 
ah!  there  are  also  many  sad  reflections.  My  experi 
ence,  though  varied,  sometimes  joyous  and  again 
heart-rending,  I  would  not  take  a  fortune  for.  Good 
opportunities  were  afforded  for  the  study  of  that  great 
est  of  all  studies,  human  nature.  Every  trait  of  the 
human  heart  might  be  detected,  not  only  the  evil  pas 
sions,  but  also  the  God-like  virtues.  There  were 
many  pleasures  experienced  in  working  for  the  sol 
dier.  It  was  pleasant  to  meet,  not  only  old  friends 
and  acquaintances,  but  to  form  new  ones.  It  was 
pleasant  to  see  countenances  light  up  as  one  entered 
the  wards  where  the  sick  and  wounded  were  lying. 
It  was  pleasant  to  know  that  your  efforts,  however 
humble,  were  gratefully  appreciated — yea,  an  hun 
dredfold.  And  there  was  a  melancholy  pleasure  even 
in  administering  to  dying  wants ;  but  the  best  of  all 
was  the  consciousness  of  doing  good ;  but  the  sad  re 
flections  far  outweigh  all  the  pleasant  experiences.  It 


266  THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE. 

is  sad  to  think  of  the  desolate  homes,  of  the  broken 
family  circles,  of  the  lonely  firesides,  of  the  many  sor 
rowing  ones  all  over  our  land.  It  is  sad  to  think  of  the 
thousands  of  widowed  wives  and  fatherless  children,  of 
so  many  loving  mothers  who  wait  in  vain  for  the  return 
of  their  darling  boys,  and  of  aged  fathers  who  have 
none  upon  whom  to  lean,  the  staff  of  their  declining 
years  having  been  broken.  It  is  sad  to  see  so  many 
crippled  youth,  so  many  empty  sleeves. 

"Empty  sleeves!   oh,  sad  reminders 

Of  that  long  and  dreary  night, 
Mournful  tokens  of  the  battle, 

Saddest  traces  of  the  fight ; 
Telling  us  how  heroes  suffered 

For  their  country  and  the  right. 

"But  those  empty  sleeves  are  hallowed 

By  the  grave  the  battle  leaves — 
Mournful  pride  and  saddest  glory, 

Noblest  gift  our  land  receives. 
Honor  to  those  gallant  heroes  ! 
Honor  to  those  empty  sleeves ! " 

When  we  think  of  the  untold  millions  spent,  and 
the  myriads  of  lives  sacrificed  in  crushing  out  the  re 
bellion — for  "  from  Western  plain  to  ocean-tide  are 
stretched  the  graves  of  those  who  died" — the  price 
seems  too  costly.  But  how  truthful  the  following : 


THE  BOYS  IN  WHITE.  267 

"Some  things  are  worthless,  and  others  so  good 
That  nations  who  buy  them  pay  only  in  blood." 

And  only  when  we  remember  the  grand  result  achiev 
ed — "that  the  canker  of  death,  dark  slavery's  stain," 
is  wiped  out  forever,  and  our  glorious  Union  main 
tained — can  we  feel  that  the  three  hundred  thousand 
graves  where  sleep  the  "  Boys  in  White "  were  not 
made  in  vain. 

"  Noble  souls  !  oh,  how  heroic 

Was  the  sacrifice  they  made, 
When  the  awful  tide  of  treason 

By  their  own  life-blood  was  stayed, 
And  their  manhood's  strength  and  glory 
On  their  country's  altar  laid. 

"  They  have  bought  their  country's  freedom, 

Sealed  with  blood  and  bitter  pain; 
They  have  fought,  and  they  have  suffered, 

But  their  work  was  not  in  vain  : 
Over  all  our  rescued  country 

Floats  the  starry  flag  again." 

But,  as  the  rainbow  of  peace  now  spans  the  politi 
cal  horizon,  may  we  not  soon  hope  for  the  fulfilment 
of  the  prophetic  words  of  the  immortal  Lincoln,  in  tho 
the  closing  paragraph  of  his  first  inaugural  address  ? 
"  The  mystic  chords  of  memory,  stretching  from  every 
battlefield  and  patriot  grave  to  every  living  heart 


268 


THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 


and  hearth  -  stone  all  over  our  broad  land,  will  yet 

swell   the   chorus  of  the    Union,   when   touched,    as 

they   surely   will  be,    by   the    better   angels   of  our 
nature." 


\ 


THE  BOYS   IN   WHITE.  269 

As  a  fitting  and  appropriate  conclusion  to  this  little 
Look,  and  in  keeping  with  the  thoughts  and  incidents 
recorded  in  the  last  chapter,  we  insert  the  following 
poem,  composed,  as  we  are  informed  by  the  author, 
during  the  delivery  of  Mr.  Bancroft's  celebrated 
eulogy,  in  the  Hall  of  Kepresentatives,  on  the  first 
anniversary  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln : 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN— ANNIVERSARY  TOEM. 


BY  U.  J.  BAXTETC. 


[Written  April  14,  1866.] 

WHAT  troubled  woe 
Speaks  to  a  nation  of  her  glories  slain  ? 
What  sudden  grief  tells  of  our  glories  slain  ? 

Whose  paricidal  blow 
Has  struck  her  heart  and  filled  her  cup  of  pain  ? 

Why  sound  the  bells 
So  mournfully  upon  the  air  of  night  ? 
Why  volley  forth  the  guns  upon  the  night, 

With  sudden  peal  that  tells 
Of  darkling  horror  and  of  dire  affright? 

The  morn  shall  ope 

With  a  dread  tale  that  tells  of  dark  eclipse— 
Of  a  dark  deed  that  throws  its  black  eclipse 

On  all  a  nation's  hope, 
And  smites  the  joy  that  filled  a  nation's  lips. 


270  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

The  waning  light 

Goes  out  in  many  a  home  as  sinks  the  day 
Which  lights  a  nation's  life — the  glorious  day 

Which  made  our  joy  so  bright — 
A  risen  sun — a  lump  of  feeble  clay  ! 


"Dust  unto  dust!" 

Death  calls — earth  fades — Heaven  opens  full  in  view  ; 
A  glorious  Heaven  meets  his  raptured  view. 

No  gates  shall  bar  the  just — 
His  mighty  soul  in  triumph  enters  through ! 


Through  tears  and  gloom- 
Through  seas  of  blood — through  stormy  deeps  of  woe- 
He  brought  our  land  safe  through  its  bleeding  woe ; 

Yet  on  his  honored  tomb, 
Emblems  of  peace,  fair,  fadeless  lilies  grow. 


For  if  the  sword 

Owed  to  his  hand  its  prestige  and  renown — 
Smote  all  his  foes  and  won  his  high  renown- 

His  voice  was  but  the  word 
Through  which  his  people'g  voice  and  will  were  shown. 


His  country's  cry 

Was  to  him  as  the  mighty  voice  of  God ; 
His  people's  voice  was  as  the  voice  of  God — 

Till  called  of  Him  on  high 
To  glory's  courts,  where  angels  never  trod ; 


THE    BOYS   IN   WHI   E.  271 

And  now  we  weep — 

Weep  that  a  nation's  sins  have  laid  him  low- 
Weep  that  our  proud  crimes  thus  have  brought  him  low — 

Grieve  o'er  his  peaceful  sleep, 
Wrought  by  the  vile  assassin's  vengeful  blow. 


And  well  may  tears, 

The  agony  of  blood,  and  ever-during  shame — 
Tears  of  remorse  and  never-ceasing  shame, 

Flow  on  through  endless  years, 
And  consecrate  for  aye  his  deathless  name. 


The  kingliest  name 

That  graced  our  living,  earth's  historic,  page — 
Gilding  anew  the  old  historic  page 

Of  all  her  deeds  of  fame — 
The  crowning  soul — the  glory  of  our  age. 


Stricken  and  low ! 

Aye,  let  us  weep — weep  for  the  guilt  and  crime — 
The  ingrate  sense — the  coward  guilt  and  crime  ! 

Dissolve  in  tears  and  woe 
The  darkling  horrors  of  this  monstrous  time  1 


His  name  breathe  not, 

His  thrice-accursed  name,  whose  "brutal  hand — 
Whose  foul,  polluted  heart  and  brutal  hand 

A  demon's  purpose  wrought, 
And  whelmed  in  grief  our  glad,  rejoicing  land. 


272  THE   BOYS   IN   WHITE. 

No  fame  be  his  ! 

His  crime  too  dark  for  name,  too  vile  for  scorn — 
A  nameless  deed  of  guilt,  too  vile  for  scorn — 

Oblivion's  dread  abyss 
Be  his  abode,  through  ages  still  unborn  ! 


To  Thee,  Great  God ! 

We  bow  our  stricken  hearts,  and  lift  our  cry — 
Humble  our  prostrate  souls  and  bring  our  cry  ; 

We  feel  Thy  chastening  rod— 
Oh  1  grant  Thy  loving  favor  ere  we  die  1 


We  see  Thy  hand  ! 

Through  all  these  years  Thy  ruling  hand  was  shown- 
In  war's  dread  flame  Thy  mighty  hand  was  shown  1 

Our  torn  and  bleeding  Land 
Felt  Thy  protecting  arm  around  her  thrown. 


Yet  our  proud  heart 

Was  still  uplifted,  full  of  vaunting  boasts- 
Claiming  the  victory  with  our  selfish  boasts, 

Till  vengeance'  sudden  dart 
Struck  down  the  mightiest  from  our  chosen  hosts. 


And  then  we  saw — 

Saw  through  the  tears  and  anguish  of  our  pain — 
Our  quickened  flood  of  grief  and  blinding  pa.u — 

The  fiat  of  Thy  law 
The  joy  and  clamor  of  our  pride  restrain  1 


THE   BOYS   IN  WHITE.  273 

Humbly  we  kneel ! 

Oil !  guide  us  still,  our  Fatner,  through  the  sea  1 
Our  way  has  led  us  through  a  great  Red  Sea ! 

And  we  have  felt  the  seal 
Of  blood's  baptizing — pensioned  thus  of  Thee  I 


Now  through  a  year 

Of  unspent  sorrow,  still  we  gaze  and  weep ; 
Still  in  our  grief  we  backward  gaze  and  weep — 

Still  tremble  in  our  fear, 
And  shudder  o'er  fresh  phantoms  as  we  sleep. 


And  still  we  look 

Forth  to  the  future  with  a  nameless  dread — 
Still  the  dark  problem  fills  our  path  with  dread ; 

Time's  yet  unwritten  book 
Hangs  ponderous  and  fearful  o'er  our  head. 


Our  leader  slain ; 

Our  greater  Moses  laid  in  smouldering  dust, 
A  nation's  heart  bowed  with  him  in  the  dust, 

We  turn  our  hope  in  vain 
To  seek  a  chieftain  worthy  of  his  trust. 


No  marvel  here ! 

Two  kingliest  come  not  haply  born  and  twinned — 
Each  age  its  one  great  soul,  nor  matched,  nor  twinned, 

Owning  no  mortal  peer — 
Go  is  his  glory  in  our  age  unkinned. 


27-1  THE   BOYS  IN   WHITE. 

His  mantle  fell — 

On  whom  is  not  yet  shown — yet  sure  its  folds 
Are  buried  not — its  rich  and  loving  folds 

Shall  lay  some  blessed  spell 
On  him  who  most  his  noble  spirit  holds. 


Great  chieftain !  rest ! 

Our  hearts  shall  go  as  pilgrims  to  thy  tomb ; 
Our  spirits  mourn  and  bless  thy  martyr  tomb ; 

We  deem  thy  lot  is  blest ; 
Our  love  shall  rob  our  sorrow  of  its  gloom 


All  coming  time 

Shall  ne'er  despoil  thy  glory  of  its  crown — 
Each  year  shall  set  its  jewels  in  thy  crown — 

Each  day  bell's  passing  chime 
Shall  add  a  tongue  to  speak  thy  just  renown. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


14  DAY  USE 


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